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THE 


Mysterious Castle. 

7 

A TALE OF 


THE MIDDLE AGES. 


TRANSLATED 


FROM THE FRENCH 

By MRS. KATE E. ^UGHES, 

1 1 

(NÉE DUVAL.) 



KELLY, PIET & COMPANY. 
1878. 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1878, 

By KATE E. HUGHES, 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. 


PREFACE. 


The following story was written by the young Baron 
de Babasteins, who was the last of his race, after he had 
embraced the monastic life at the Abbey of Arguebelle. 
It commences with a short sketch of his ancestors dur- 
ing the Crusades, and finishes by his entering the abbey 
as a monk. 

It is a succession of pleasant, humorous stories and 
incidents, with some quite sensational adventures which 
took place in the old Castle of Monségur, in the Dau- 
phiné, in th^ south of France. 

It is written in the quaint style of the seventeenth 
century, describing the life and manners of the aristoc- 
racy and peasantry of that part of France, and the 
period; and is full of varied interest, mingled pathos 
and humor. 

The spirit of piety breathes throughout. The faith- 
ful discharge of all religious duties is most forcibly in- 
culcated and enforced by the strongest examples. 

The most sacred duty of morning prayer stands very 
prominent throughout the work, and all the lessons 
being given in a very agreeable form should be not only 
salutary, but lasting. 


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CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER I. 

Birdseye View of the Home of the Kabasteins — The War 
of 1734 — Siege of Philisbourg — The Death of Marshal 
de Berwick and Baron de Rabasteins, . . . . 


CHAPTER IL 

Madame de Rabasteins becomes Blind — Pilgrimage to Our 
Lady of Fourvrière — Punishment of Mandarin — Tragic 
Adventure of Bastarde, 


CHAPTER III. 

The Young Baron de Rabasteins sojourns some time at 
Lyons, then he sets out for Florence — The Brigand 
Cauvin, called The Man with Three Eyes — Singular 
Adventures of the Train-bearer of the Bishop of Fréjus, 


CHAPTER IV. 

The Young Baron de Rabasteins and his Mother go to 
Cannes — Touching Episode of the Iron Mask, 


PAGE 

9 


22 


42 


68 


6 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTEK V. 

History of the Train-bearer of the Archbishop of Aix — The 
Castle of Suze — Peter Dufour, Sergeant of the Regi- 
ment of Beauze, and his Brother James — Mdlle. de Pra- 
contal dies on the Day of her Marriage with M. de 
Quinsonnas, 


CHAPTER VI. 

Memoirs of the Baron d'îs Adrets — The young Rabasteins 
visits the Castle of Monségur — Frightful Catastrophe, . 


CHAPTER VIL 

Brought to Life— Strange Revelations — Father Huet — Ser- 
geant Peter Dufour rewarded, . . . . . 


CHAPTER VIIL 

Painful Situation of the young Baron de Rabasteins — His 
Remorse — His Journey to Bugey — The Two Little 
Savoyards, 


CHAPTER IX. 

The young Baron de Rabasteins goes to Toulouse — Cardinal 
de Richelieu and Captain St. Preuil, . . . . 


CHAPTER X. 

The young Baron de Rabasteins goes to Paris — Singular 
Meeting — Society of Parliamentarians, . . . 


PAGB 


89 


115 


151 


175 


188 


208 


CONTENTS. 


7 


CHAPTER XL 

Father Gueret, the Pastor of St. Paul — Project of Marriage — 
The Lamentable End of these Projects, .... 


CHAPTER XII. 

The Funeral — An Unexpected Duel — The young Baron de 
Kahasteins returns to Dauphiné and embraces the 
Monastic Life in the Abbey of Aiguebelle, . 


CHAPTER XIII. 

The Baron de Kahasteins visits Paris a Second Time — Very 
Extraordinary Encounter, 


PAGE 

231 


269 


279 


Conclusion, 


306 







THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


CHAPTER I. 


BIRDSEYE VIEW OF THE HOME OF THE RABASTEINS — 
THE WAR OF 1734 — SIEGE OF PHILISBOURG — THE 
DEATH OF MARSHAL DE BERWICK AND OF BARON DE 
RABASTEINS. 



RAKCIS DE LESSAC, Baron de Raba- , 
steins, found himself, in 1724, an orphan 
/ without father or mothe^ and theTast of 
very ancient race ; of whom a most 
glorious tradition was carefully preserved- in this 
family. 

Pope Innocent III, having excommunicated Ray- 
mond of St. Gilles, Count of Toulouse, instituted 
Simon of Montfort, who then commanded the army 
of the crusades against the Albigenses, sovereign of 
the Septimanie. This famous warrior never with- 
drew from the obligation of conquering by arms the 
states that he owed to the decision of the holy siege. 




10 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


Simon of Montfort could not lead to his interests 
the mass of the people, to whom he was a stranger 
by origin, language, and customs; nevertheless he 
succeeded in gaining a pretty large number of free- 
holders ; amongst these was the Knight of Lessac. 
After having dispersed the armies of the King of 
Aragon, Montfort laid siege to Toulouse for the third 
time during this sanguinary quarrel. According to 
his custom the chief of the crusaders heard mass 
very devoutly on the 25th of June, 1218, very early 
in the morning, whilst the besieged, led by the Vis- 
count de Béziers, made a most furious sally, pene- 
trating into the camp and rapidly approaching the 
tent where they were offering the mass. 

Instantly some knights, breathless with haste and 
tear, came to announce to Montfort that he was in 
the most imminent danger; in short, the furious 
enemy were overthrowing all obstacles, the uproar 
was approaching nearer and nearer to the tent, and 
the clicking of arms was heard. Montfort, deaf to 
the entreaties of his own people, did not allow his 
prayers to be interrupted for a single instant, and 
refused to rise before the consecration had been 
fully finished. As for the rest, the officiating priest 
showed as much resolution as the warrior. He 
finished the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass without 
troubling himself the least in the world, disposing 
himself to receive at the foot of the altar the palm 
of martyrdom under the blows of heretics. 

In the midst of this frightful panic every one had 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


11 


taken flight ; the bravest endeavored to arrest the 
surging tide of assailants ; only two knights remained 
near Simon de Montfort, faithful enough to share 
his confidence in the power of Almighty God. 
These were Guy de Lévis and Pierre de Lessac. 
The remembrance of an event so remarkable was 
perpetuated in both families. That of Lessac pre- 
served carefully, in one of their domains, a picture, 
very mediocre, viewed critically, which represented 
this scene. This painting, executed towards the mid- 
dle of the sixteenth century, in the same region, 
showed in perspective the city of Toulouse as it was 
at this period, and this enhanced the merit of the 
picture. 

The two paternal uncles of the Baron de Kaba- 
steins were consecrated to celibacy ; they hastened 
him into marriage, although he was very young, 
having been born in the commencement of the 
seventeenth centur3^ They obtained for him the 
hand of Marie d’Esconloubre, a rich heiress, daugh- 
ter of one of the oldest families in Languedoc. 
Marie d’Esoonloubre had been brought up until she 
was twenty years of age in one of the best convents in 
Lyons. This city, watered with the blood of martyrs 
in the first centuries of the church, gained a just title 
for being the reservoir of all the Christian virtues. 

Marie d’Esconloubre knew weW how to draw from 
this sacred fount a lively yet calm faith, which did 
not bear any resemblance to the enthusiastic religious 
transports so customary amongst the population of 


12 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


the southern provinces. Marie d’Esconloubre having 
received the most finished and distinguished educa- 
tion, did not fail to be appreciated in Languedoc. 
They quoted her, particularly among the 3^oung per- 
sons of her age, for her wisdom and modesty. The 
sweetness of her soul was portrayed in her whole 
physiognomy. The features of her face were some- 
what at fault through their extreme delicacy; her 
e^'es, of a clear celestial blue, expressed a most 
modest timidity; in their dewy tenderness they 
seemed made only to weep. Alas ! tears were not 
wanting. 

The young family owned a mansion in the elegant 
city of Toulouse; the young husband preferred, how- 
ever, to establish himself in a small castle situated 
on the banks of the Tarn, on the spot where this 
graceful river receives the Agout. It was one of 
the loveliest and most agreeable locations in the 
southern provinces ; not far from this place is to be 
found the little village of Buset, in which St. Vincent 
of Paul, in the beginning of his life (1600), estab- 
lished an asylum ; recent alterations have changed 
the front of this house, but they have preserved 
intact the room occupied by the holy apostle of 
humanity. 

The determination of living constantly in the 
country was only taken by M. de Eabasteins upon 
the earnest entreaty of his young wife, who dreaded 
for her husband a sojourn in the large cities. The 
love of play and gallantry absorbed at that time 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


13 


every moment in high society. Since the death of 
the old king, the nobility, never very rigid in their 
manners, aflected the habits of a licentious life; and 
it was this that filled the heart of Marie d’Esconlou- 
bre with such proper fear. 

At the end of two years of this most tender and 
afiPectionate union, Madame de Rabasteins brought 
into the world a son — this was myself. My mother’s 
delicate constitution succumbed under the severe ill- 
ness which attended her confinement. 

Her convalescence was protracted for one year, 
and from that time, Marie d’Esconloubre remained 
an invalid ; the delightful joys that a woman experi- 
ences in the midst of her maternal cares could alone 
bring some amelioration of her long sufferings. 

Marie d’Esconloubre declared that, notwithstand- 
ing her continued illness, the happiness that she 
enjoyed would yet sufiSce for her ambition, if God 
would only show her by some manifest sign how 
long it would continue; but a sort of mistrust trou- 
bled the happiness of my poor mother, and these 
sad apprehensions were realized in the eighth year 
of her marriage. 

The war broke out in 1733; they could not find a 
more honorable pretext. Louis XV was desirous of 
re-establishing upon the throne of Poland his father- 
in-law Stanislas. /This prince had been dispossessed 
by an unjust competitor, whom Russia and Austria 
supported by their arms ; now, however, the Poles 
being free to manifest their own inclinations, recol- 


14 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


lected their old king; but these same powers opposed 
the re-establishment of Stanislas. For a long time 
the French nobility had loudly called for war, and 
they applauded with transports of joy the determi- 
nation taken by Louis XV and his ministers. 

The family of Baron de Rabasteins had never 
ceased following a military career. The uncles of my 
father, of whom one had gained the cross of St. 
Louis at the battle of Denain, was excited to seize 
this occasion of assuming once more his rank in the 
army. Yielding to the solicitations of his relatives, 
he bought a company in the regiment of M. de 
Lautrec. This lord, one of the highest rank in our 
provinces, was raising at this time a body of cavalry; 
a crowd of young people were burning with ardor 
to be enrolled in it, and with more enthusiasm, as M. 
de Lautrec enjoyed, as a military man, a very great 
reputation, and so each one hoped to signalize himself 
under the command of such a distinguished leader. 

My mother, although so timid and gentle in ap- 
pearance, did not hesitate to encourage her husband 
to fulfil without murmuring the obligations that his 
birth imposed upon him. Baron de Rabasteins, on 
the contrary, I must confess, did not show himself 
inflamed with that warlike ardor so natural to the 
French people of all classes; he set out with more 
regret than pleasure; his train was composed of 
eight horses, led by four men servants; his confi- 
dential domestic was named Michael ; he was a man 
of forty years of age, very tall and very strong. In 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


15 


Languedoc, where the nobility is truly popular, the 
servants live in the regard of their masters on a cer- 
tain kind of intimate footing, which does not, how- 
ever, exclude the greatest respect ; and their devo- 
tion passes all expression. The unaffected exactions 
with which Michael performed his religious duties, 
distinguished him in the eyes of my mother, and 
in consideration of this regularity of conduct, she 
placed him as body servant to Baron de Kabasteins, 
to accompany him in the next campaign. 

France was about placing on foot and organizing 
two armies ; the weakest, commanded by the Mar- 
shal de Yillars, was ordered to Milan, to operate in 
concert with the troops of the King of Sardinia. It 
w^ould appear reasonable that the horse squadrons, 
to which my father belonged, should go to join the 
army in Italy ; but a superior order directed them 
to pass through Languedoc, in order to join a por- 
tion of the army that had assembled at Alsace. 

My mother endured this separation with a per- 
fectly Christian resolution. Sometimes during these 
sad farewells, sobs choked her sweet and tender 
voice; but resignation soon restored her, and the 
last words that this angelic woman addressed to her 
husband were these : “ Baron de Kabasteins, be like 
your ancestors, brave and pious.’’ 

The correspondence between my parents, as may 
be imagined, was as follows: The letters of Marie 
d’Esconloubre inclosed not only expressions of exces- 
sive tenderness, but still more the most enlightened 


16 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


counsels upon the conduct that ought to be sustained 
in a world filled with stumbling-blocks and quick- 
sands, — rocks upon which the unhappy voyager may 
often be wrecked. In reading several passages of 
these letters, one might almost believe that they had. 
been written sooner by a stern father than by a 
young wife in love with her husband. 

Each of these letters contained earnest exhorta- 
tions relating to certain religious duties. “Never 
forget,’’ said Marie d’Esconloubre without ceasing, 
“ never forget to say the morning prayers, the most 
important of all; it is in this manner that one should 
commence each day, since he does not know but 
that it may be the last.” She had charged Michael 
in the most explicit manner to remind his master of 
this obligation, if M. de Eabasteins should ever lose 
the remembrance of it in the midst of those agita- 
tions which are so connected with a military career. 

'Numerous legions were assembled on the border 
of the Rhine ; the distinguished men at their head 
were the Marquise d’Asfeld, the Dukes de Noailles, 
de Richelieu, the Count de Bellile, the Prince de 
Tingri the Count Maurice de Saxe. All these gen- 
erals, who already enjoyed a very high reputation 
for bravery and experience, were about being placed 
under the command of the Marshal of Berwick, con- 
queror of Almanza; this illustrious stranger had 
well known how to return through his victories the 
hospitality that France granted to the princes of the 
house of Stuart; he preserved in an advanced age 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


17 


all the fire of youth. Berwick exercised an extreme 
severity in order to maintain among his troops the 
most rigorous discipline ; but he granted too much 
indulgence in gambling of all kinds, provided it did 
not interfere in any way with the military service; 
the result of this was an incalculable depravity of 
manners among the oflicers. In the late wars, during 
the reign of Louis the XIV, the superior officers, as 
well as the subordinates, were remarkable for the 
strictness of their conduct. Morning and evening 
prayers were said in public by chaplains appointed 
to this noble office. The Marshal de Berwick, called 
to the command of the army in 1733, allowed this 
excellent custom to fall into disuse; he did not cease 
showing himself very lukewarm in matters of re- 
ligion, which was very diflerent to the account we 
have received of the princes of his family who 
sacrificed crowns to the interests of the Catholic 
Church. 

Such an example did not fail to produce its fruits; 
the greater number of the officers affiected to treat 
with a sort of contempt those who had preserved 
some attachment to their religious duties. Baron 
de Kabasteins soon became a subject of raillery for 
his brother officers, because his language announced 
a deep respect for holy things. These incessant de- 
risions created a fixed dislike towards the one who 
was the object of them; irresolution commenced to 
gain upon him, and there is no doubt that Baron de 
Rabasteins would have yielded, if the admirable let- 
2 


18 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


ters of Marie d’Esconloubre had not arrived to sus- 
tain bis courage, and if Michael had failed for one 
single day in performing his beautiful mission. 
Every morning this faithful guardian was accus- 
tomed to remind his master, with a sublime per- 
sistency, of the^act of devotion by which he should 
commence the day, and he would kneel first before 
the Baron, reciting the “Our Father ’’ in a firm strong 
voice, the Baron repeating several times over this 
divine prayer. 

The accomplishment of this daily duty was easy 
whilst the army was on the march, and found lodg- 
ings assigned to each regiment beforehand. An 
officer could then retire to his sleeping apartment, 
and withdraw himself from the impertinent gaze of 
the multitude; but difficulties surrounded them, as 
soon as the campaign had commenced, when the 
troops were placed in front of the enemy, and dis- 
tributed about as night-guards, and submitted to be 
continually placed upon watch. Prayers then had 
to be said in the open air, and from that time the 
pious customs of the Baron de Rabasteins were no 
no longer a mystery to any one. It happened many 
times that some of the officers would follow him, 
saying in a mocking tone: “We hope you have not 
forgotten to say your morning prayers, for without 
taking this precaution your horse perhaps would not 
be able to stand.’’ 

The Marshal de Berwick opened hostilities by a 
vigorous and masterly attack, the result of which was 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


19 


the taking of the fort of Kell. After the conquest 
the French arm}^ crossed the Rhine and overwhelmed 
the German provinces bordering the river. It ap- 
peared that some diplomatic negotiations were mod- 
erating the ardor of both parties. At last a new rup- 
ture enabled Berwick to direct the fallowing opera- 
tions under his particular supervision : Towards the 
middle of May, 1734, he laid siege to Philisbourg, 
one of the strongholds of Germany. The place, 
however, well fortified and defended by a numerous 
garrison, opposed an heroic resistance to the first 
attacks; some sallies, skilfully directed, kept the be- 
siegers at bay. On his part, the Marshal exercised 
a marvellous activity and watchfulness; he consid- 
ered, however, the conquest of Philisbourg as certain. 

On the 12th of July, 1734, long before dawn, when 
all the army of the besiegers were tasting still the 
sweets of sleep under the protection of the main 
guard, the imperial army went out of Philisbourg 
and made a most vigorous demonstration, of which 
the commencement was a terrible cannonading. The 
French camp filled the air with cries: “To arms! to 
horse I” As is often the case in such circumstances the 
danger appeared graver than it was in reality; while 
the suddenness of the attack acted upon the coolest 
men. Following his custom, M. de Berwick was the 
first stirring, and he hastened towards the point of 
attack before his usual escort had joined him in the 
rear. 

My father, awakened in surprise, had only time to 


20 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


adjust his dress and leap into the saddle in order to 
follow the Marshal, who was flying off rapidly; honor 
made him wdsh to overtake him speedily. At this 
moment a giddy young officer galloped to his side, 
saying to him in a mostsardonic tone: “Rabasteins, 
you have not had leisure this time to say your morn- 
ing prayers; be prudent, the first cannon-ball, whilst 
we are approaching the line, will certainly be for 
you.’’ 

My father, in a few moments, rejoined the Mar- 
shal, who was already surrounded by a number of 
the general oflScers; this valorous warrior showed 
himself very impatient with the persistence of one of 
the batteries of the enemy which some natural ob- 
stacle concealed from his sight. The bullets from this 
battery were tearing up the earth around him; he 
stepped lightly upon a rising point of ground in 
order to understand better the situation of the Impe- 
rialists; such an action had cost the great Turenne 
his life ; the result here was the same. The shoulders 
of Berwick appeared slightly above the slope of the 
hill, when a bullet struck him, shattering his head; 
the brain actually leaped from the skull, and he fell 
back upon the breast of the Duke of Fitz-James, son 
of the Marshal. 

Several volleys of cannon-shot succeeded this one 
rapidly, and my father, who found himself mingled 
with the group that surrounded the General, was 
overthrown by a shell which pierced his right side. 

Michael was following with other valets of the 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


21 


general officers. An instinct of some misfortune 
caused him to understand, in the midst of the con- 
fusion of the action, that his master had just received 
a serious injury. He forced his way through the cav- 
alry, then, having descended from his horse, he raised 
my father, who was lying on the ground covered with 
blood, in his strong arms, and removed him to a 
small mound carpeted with green turf. 

Baron de Babasteins, recognizing his faithful 
Michael, commenced reciting the “Our Father” of 
the morning, following the custom practiced be- 
tween them, but the death-rattle smothered in a few 
seconds his feeble accents. The loyal servant fin- 
ished the prayer with a solemn voice, then throwing 
himself upon the body of his master, uttered the 
most heart-rending cries. This pathetic scene moved 
all the officers, notwithstanding the preoccupation 
which was caused by the death of the commander- 
in-chief of the army, and the next day, at sunrise, a 
large number of officers did not fail to say in secret 
their morning prayers, which they had not done for 
a long time. 




CHAPTER IL 


MADAME DE RABASTEINS BECOMES BLIND — PILGRIMAGE 
TO OUR LADY OF FOURVRIÈRE — PUNISHMENT OF MAN- 
DARIN — TRAGIC ADVENTURE OF BASTARDE. 



OW shall we be able to picture the afflic- 
tion which filled my mother’s heart when 
her parents had announced to her the 
frightful misfortune which had just fallen 
upon her. Both were persuaded that her feeble con- 
stitution would succumb certainly under the heavy 
burden. Contrary to the general expectation, Ma- 
dame de Rabasteins knew how to struggle with such 
a terrible trial; her religious principles caused her 
to conceive it a duty to attach herself to life for the 
interests of a son who was going to remain upon 
earth alone, and without protection. She lived, that 
I might not be left entirely an orphan, but she lived 
inconsolable; she never ceased weeping, and her 
sight became very delicate; at last, — the light of 
those sweet eyes was entirely extinguished in this 
continual flood of tears. At the expiration of three 
years, Madame de Rabasteins could not distinguish 
the form of any objects unless they were brought so 



THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 23 

near her eyelids as to touch them ; she often pressed 
my face to hers in order to feel some of my features. 
One thing in me charmed her, — it was my speech, 
which was perfectly like that of my father; this pe- 
culiarity became more noticeable as I advanced in 
age. My little prattlings were a recreation to her 
instead of an inconvenience. She said frequently 
to me: “Talk, my child, talk as much as thou 
canst.” 

I attained w^ith difficulty the age of ten years; my 
health, very delicate until this period, appeared then 
to grow stronger. A tutor was appointed to direct 
my education ; however, my mother reserved for 
herself the care of forming my heart, by instructions 
partly religious and partly familiar. One belief never 
left her, governing all her thoughts; the Baron de 
Rabasteins would never have fallen before the lines 
of Philisbourg if he had not forgotten to say his 
morning prayers before going to battle. His widow 
imposed upon herself the noble obligation of watch- 
ing me carefully, that I should fulfil with exactness 
this sacred duty before leaving my chamber. She 
never failed to make me say my morning prayers, 
commencing with the “ Our Father,’’ unless her state 
of suffering was such as to prevent her from accom- 
plishing this task. Her solicitude was extended still 
for other objects. My two great uncles had only sur- 
vived Baron de Rabasteins, their nephew, a few 
years; they left me very considerable estates, but 
very far from each other. The one who was distin- 


24 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


guished by the title of knight, possessed in Provence 
some domains which bordered on the frontiers of the 
county of Nice. I found myself the inheritor of an 
important fortune, the administration of which ex- 
acted a certain watchfulness. My mother attended 
to it with a rare and clear sagacity. She directed 
the agents in their operations much better than her 
husband had done; her firmness and good word 
often saved us from ruinous suits. 

health failed me in consequence of a too sud- 
denly developed growth; fits of ague were the result. 
The physicians advised Madame de Rabasteins to 
take a journey, in order to ettect a healthy diversion 
by changing the air. My mother, having passed a 
portion of her youth in Lyons, had a great devotion 
to Our Lady of Fourvrière; she decided that we 
should go to this city, in order to invoke for me the 
protection of the Blessed Virgin, not doubting that 
by the grace of her assistance I would obtain a 
speedy cure. 

We set out from Toulouse the first week of April, 
1744; we passed through Montpellier and Nimes. 
My mother wished to go out of her way, in order to 
pay a visit to the Bishop of Uzes, who had blessed 
her marriage. M. de Bauyn gave us the most 
friendly reception ; he filled one of the richest sees 
in the kingdom, and competed in magnificence with 
M. de Crussol, Duke of Uzès, whose superb castle 
rose in the middle of the village. The feudal tower 
of this castle was considered one of the finest monu- 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


25 


ments of this kind. I wished to ascend it, but 
my mother opposed my doing so, fearing some acci- 
dent; scarcely would she permit me to run through 
the park, in the midst of which was built the sump- 
tuous Episcopal Palace. 

This park may be regarded as one of the curiosi- 
ties of the province of Languedoc. It is watered by 
a little river, whose waters, as abundant as limpid, 
cause several mills to turn ; the principal one of 
these mills has become historical through a very droll 
event. Here it is, as M. de Bauyn related it to us : 

At the time of the Reformation the Cardinal Odet 
de Chatillon -was ambitious to have the Archbish- 
opric of Reims; not having obtained it he turned 
Calvinist, and wedded soon after Florine de Haute- 
ville; and, what appeared very singular, notwith- 
standing his marriage, the deserter of altars always 
wore the dress of a dignitary of the Church. Odet 
de Châtillon exercised a great control over the mind 
of another priest, Jean de St. Gelais, the fifty-first 
bishop of Uzes; he persuaded him to follow his ex- 
ample, and this weak man followed this wretched 
advice and espoused the cause of the Reformers. 
He was immediately expelled from his see, and the 
Court of Rome supplied his place with another. 

At the expiration of a few years the apostate re- 
pented and wished to return to the bosom of the 
Church, after having made an ample apology. How- 
ever, deprived of the means of existence, he came 
to beg the assistance of his successor; the latter, 
3 


26 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


touched with compassion, yielded to St. Gelais the 
revenues of one mill, which was within the vast in- 
closure of the bishopric. The country people com- 
posed a saying on this occasion, and it has passed 
into a proverb, to which time has given a certain 
celebrity: “The bishop turns miller.” .At last this 
change of fortune was very painful for M. de St. Gelais 
to support, for he loved display and good living 
dearly. 

On leaving Uzès we crossed the Rhone at the 
bridge of the Holy Ghost. After having passed 
through Montelimart we met on the way some de- 
tachments of troops and numerous pickets of the 
Marshalsea; at last we arrived, on the evening of the 
26 th, at the town of Valence. The streets were ob- 
structed by a tumultuous people; our carriage, led 
by postilions, effected with difficulty a passage 
through the waves of a mutinous and rebellious 
people. The postilion ended by setting us down in 
the courtyard of the best inn. Once installed in her 
room, my mother wished to know the cause of this 
extraordinary movement, and the landlord was sum- 
moned to satisfy our natural curiosity. The inn- 
keeper kept us a long time in suspense, for before 
explaining he repeated ten times over : “ How is it, 
madam, that you do not know; you are a stranger, 
then ?” 

“ Certainly,” replied my mother. 

“Well, to-day, precisely at twelve o’clock,” con- 
tinued the landlord, in a deeply changed voice, “ one 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


27 


of the bravest and most generous of men was put to 
death by the hands of the executioner, outside of the 
ramparts, in front of the great tower.” 

“ But who was he ?” 

“Mandarin! since I must tell you.” And the 
landlord beat his breast, and stamped his feet on 
the floor of the room. 

Madame de Rabasteins, in her usual calm man- 
ner, commenced saying to him : 

“ But who is this Mandarin ?” 

At this question, asked in a tone of indifference, the 
astonished man threw his arms up towards heaven, 
saying: “ Since Mandarin is unknown to you, I have 
nothing more to say.” Saying these words, he rushed 
down stairs and disappeared. 

“Landlord, landlord!” cried we, “ please tell us 
who is this Mandarin?” But the landlord did not 
return. The door of our room remained open. At 
this moment we saw appear upon the sill a well- 
dressed gentleman; from one of the button-holes of 
his coat hung the cross of St. Louis. This oflicer 
saluted my mother very politely, saying: “Madam, 
I occupy the room next to you ; I heard the conver- 
sation with M. Durand, and if you wish to know 
who this Mandarin is, in whose fate you take such a 
lively interest, I can, if you will permit me, satisfy 
your curiosity.”' 

My mother, thanking the officer, begged him to 
be seated near her, that she might be able to hear 
and understand him better. The stranger related it 
in these words : 


28 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


“Mandarin was certainly a most determined rob- 
ber; but, in order to lessen in the eyes of the vulgar 
the odium of his life, he styled himself chief of the 
contrabandists. He and his companions desolated 
the provinces bordering on the Rhone; his band be- 
came so numerous, his attacks so bold, that the gov- 
ernment of Dauphiné found themselves obliged to 
send out four thousand men to deliver the country 
from such a scourge. Mandarin and the greater 
part of his band w^ere pursued vigorously as far as 
Savoy. There the notorious brigand, hunted down 
in a miserable village, fell into the hands of the Mar- 
shal’s troops. They had been under a good escort 
to Valence, where the criminal court, presided over 
by the grand provost of Lyons, judged him, and con- 
demned him to be broken alive on the wheel.” 

My mother, interrupting the officer, said to him : 
“ Will you explain to me, sir, how this Mandarin, 
who appears to be a great criminal, could inspire our 
landlord with such dramatic compassion ?” 

“ This is the cause: Mandarin is the son of a work- 
man of this province; the long resistance that he has 
opposed to the troops sent out against him, and his 
audacious attacks, have exalted him in the minds of 
the people. Besides, he pretended to respect the 
dwellings of the poor; his rage was exercised prin- 
cipally upon the castles; he robbed, burnt them, and 
in case of resistance on the part of the inmates, the 
furious conqueror killed them. The sums of money 
inclosed in the boxes of the collectors of taxes, or the 
receivers of imposts, passed into his possession. The 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


29 


peasants, who had nothing to fear on the part of this 
leader of the contrabandists, found, on the contrary, 
that it was to their interest to second him in his en- 
terprises, for he paid generously for services that 
Avere rendered to him. Renown spread abroad a 
thousand absurd stories about him every day. His 
partisans did not cease celebrating his courage and 
generosity. This is the reason why the history of 
his life has become so popular. 

“Mandarin was still a young man, and of very fine 
appearance; he was broken on the wheel alive this 
morning in the midst of an extraordinary crowd. 
M. de Thyard, Lieutenant of the Governor of the 
province, was brought from Grenoble to Valence, 
accompanied by a body of troops, in order to protect 
the public executioner in his frightful duty, for the 
excitement that spread abroad through the country, 
caused them to fear that the people Avould seek to 
deliver the chief of the contrabandists. The execu- 
tion of Mandarin drew a crowd of the curious here. 
The termination of this sorrowful drama has been 
signalized by a circumstance remarkable enough to 
become the topic of every conversation. 

“You know, madam, that in the southern provinces 
the penitential orders are held in great esteem among 
the workmen; each trade adopts one of these confra- 
ternities in preference to all others, and, when one of 
their members die, he is buried by the brotherhood. 
Mandarin, the son of a blacksmith, was associated 
very early in life with the black penitents, and on 


30 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


coming out of prison this morning, thirty men from 
this brotherhood p)ressed around him reciting the 
prayers for the dying. A triple rank of soldiers 
separated them from the people. Contrary to the 
expectations of the public, the prisoner, whose fear- 
lessness and strength had become proverbial, showed 
no resolution in this last moment; he staggered as 
he walked. The two priests who had the charge of 
giving him the last consolations of religion, were 
obliged to support him in their arms, and a death- 
like pallor overspread his tine face. The funeral 
procession proceeded for about a quarter of an hour, 
and were just reaching the line of the ramparts, 
when a black penitent, the face carefully concealed 
by the cowl, ran into the centre of the city. Having 
passed through the line of the fusileers with great 
dexterity, he approached Mandarin quickly, whis- 
pered for a few seconds in his ear, then retiring was 
lost to sight amidst the crowd of spectators, but not 
before they had time to remark the smallness of his 
feet, as well as the whiteness of his skin, as on all 
these occasions the penitents appear barefooted. 
This one was no other than a young woman, covered 
with a black sack. The surprising part of this ad- 
venture was that the few words whispered in the ear 
of the prisoner produced the effect of an electrical 
shock. Mandarin suddenly raised his head, a faint 
blush suffused his face, and this man, who one mo- 
ment before dragged himself along with difficulty, 
now advanced with a firm step towards the place of 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


31 


punishment, and has not ceased showing the most 
heroic resignation in the midst of all the tortures. 
What could this woman have said to him to eflect 
such a metamorphose in one single instant? This, 
no one can discover, and, consequently, this strange 
incident has become the subject of a thousand con- 
jectures.^’ 

We set out for Lyons on the 27th of April, and 
the day after our arrival in this city, a servant took 
me upon his back to take me up to Fourviere, for 
the little chapel is situated on quite a hill, command- 
ing the city. This rustic church was tilled with the 
faithful. A mass was said for my intention in order 
to obtain the restoration of my health through the 
intercession of the Blessed Virgin. This pilgrimage 
fatigued my tender mother extremely, but the hopes 
that she had conceived restored calm to her alarmed 
soul. At the end of one month of tranquillity, the 
attacks of fever disappeared entirely without leaving 
any trace. 

The Marquis of Montdragon, the King’s steward, 
a relation of Madame de Rabasteins, came to invite 
us to pass a few days at his castle at St. Chamond. 
The little village that bears this name is situated 
about twelve leagues from L^ons; its population is 
composed of honest and industrious people. My 
mother, in hopes that this new change would be 
beneficial to the health of her son, accepted the in- 
vitation of M. de Montdragon. Having left Lyons 
on the 4th of May, after mass, we stopped half way 


32 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


to dine, then having continued our route, we arrived 
near seven o’clock at. St. Chaniond. What was our 
astonishment at finding the inhabitants of the place 
in the liveliest state of excitement. The women whis- 
pered to each other on the doorsills, the men formed 
animated groups the whole length of the main street, 
and as for the soldiers, St. Chamond presented the 
same appearance that we remarked in Valence six 
weeks before. My mother could not see what was 
passing around her, but the confused murmur of 
voices, and the difficulty that our carriage experi- 
enced in passing through the crowd, exercised her 
mind strongly. “What has happened?” asked she, 
“ are they going to break some robber on the wheel ?” 

The castle of the Marquis de Montdragon com- 
mands St. Chamond, as Fourviere commands Lyons. 
We had to make a considerable ascent before arriv- 
ing at the gate. We found our relative at home, 
whose cordial reception recompensed us fully for 
the fatigues of the journey. 

The servants and the whole household seemed 
bewildered. Madame de Rabasteins, having en- 
sconced herself in the drawing-room, begged the 
Marquis de Montdragon to explain to her the reason 
for the great confusioq that she had observed among 
the inhabitants of St. Chamond, who had always en- 
joyed such a great reputation for orderly conduct. 

“They merit it under every aspect,” replied the 
Marquis de Montdragon. “ That which has just hap- 
pened in our village would serve as material for a 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


83 


long history, but now you have need of repose; to- 
morrow morning I will recite to you this epic 
poem.” 

“ My cousin, I ask pardon,” cried my mother, “I 
will not leave you this evening until you have recited 
the wiiole of it to me.” 

“Since you give the order in such a determined 
manner,” replied the Marquis de Montdragon, “I 
will obey. Give me your attention. Amongst 
the most respectable of the families of the trades- 
people of St. Chamond, was that of Peter Bas- 
tarde, a silk broker by trade. He had gained the 
affections of all his fellow-citizens by the loyalty 
of his character. He had married a very pretty 
woman, whom he loved tenderly. She had just given 
him the second child, when necessity compelled him 
to set out upon one of those long and painful jour- 
neys which the obligations of his calling forced upon 
him. He went twice a year across the mountains of 
the Cévennes, of Velay and Yivarais, to sell silks to 
several merchants in Lyons. This broker, whose 
marriage had placed him in comfortable circum- 
stances, only kept a little office in St. Chamond, 
wliile he and his young family lived in a very pretty 
dwelling, located upon the top of a small hill half a 
league from the village; you can see it very dis- 
tinctly from the windows of the castle. To reach 
the broker’s dwelling you are obliged to cross a 
ravine, which is only a slight obstacle in ordinary 
weather; but this ravine serves as the bed of a 


34 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


stream, which during a storm is swollen in a most 
extraordinary manner. Floods of water beat down 
suddenly in our country, making great ravages. 
When these misfortunes occur, the stream that you 
are about to cross on foot, and which a few moments 
before may be perfectly dry, is changed into a rush- 
ing river, which carries away with it stones, trees, 
and even cattle. The beds of these torrents extend 
over a continued line of whitened rocks. They are 
filled with deep holes, some square, others in the 
form of a tunnel. These openings become like great 
gulfs, whilst the rush of waters upturns instantly the 
sand with which they are filled. 

“After a journey of several months, Bastarde 
turned his face with joy toward his native country of 
St. Chamond. During his sojourn at Puy, he had not 
failed to purchase some beautiful laces to otfer to his 
wife on the day of her feast ; she was named Monica. 
When stopping at the inns to feed his horse, the 
broker showed several times, to the young girls 
whom he found assembled there, the beautiful laces 
destined for his well-beloved; he carried them care- 
fully wrapped in the pocket of his large overcoat. 
Bastarde had passed over almost the entire space 
that separated him from his family, and his heart 
beat quickly, when on the morning of the 3d of 
May he went out from St. Etienne to commence 
a day whose end promised him such sweet joys; 
the heat was excessive, the horizon seemed to be on 
fire; gradually the sunlight was darkened by heavy 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


35 


clouds; a burning wind mingled with lightning 
appeared as the precursor of one of those terrible 
storms that the inhabitants of our country have so 
much reason to fear ; day declined ; a gloomy veil 
was spread over the face of nature. Bastarde urged 
on his horse; he reached a little inn situated on the 
right where the road separated ; the landlord was 
looking out with uneasiness from his door-sill; the 
heavens were already very dark from the storm ; 
rain commenced to fall in large drops. 

“‘M. Bastarde/ said the inn-keeper to the broker, 
‘you must stop here and let me fasten your horse in 
my stable, he seems very tired; if you go on you will 
be caught in the storm ? ’ 

“ ‘No, no, I thank you; I shall have time to reach 
there,’ replied Bastarde ; ‘ to-mofrovv will be my 
wife’s feast, and I expect to offer her this evening 
the beautiful laces that I have bought for her. I 
would not for the world fail to be there; she expects 
me.’ 

“ Saying these words he spurred on his horse vio- 
lently and flew off swiftly, taking the direct road 
to his house, without passing through St. dia- 
mond. At the end of a quarter of an hour the 
storm broke over his head with a frightful fury, but 
did not prevent his horse from continuing his travel. 
After a most painful journey, Bastarde was able to 
distinguish by the illumination of the lightning the 
roof of his house ; the sight of this dwelling, that 
held the objects of all his affections, reanimated his 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


courage ; but, in order to reach his door-sill, he must 
necessarily cross the ravine which bordered the ter- 
race walk. By this time the waters of the torrent 
had filled it entirely; they dashed about in wild 
waves with a mournful roar. 

“One living being wandered on the shore uttering 
shrill and inarticulate cries ; it was one of those in- 
oftensive idiots that the country people call an inno- 
cent ; he belonged to some rich relations wdio lived 
near Bastarde’s house; this unfortunate being, sev- 
enteen years of age, escaped frequently to wander 
through the fields; some instinct made him under- 
stand that he should return to his family as night 
approached. This evening the idiot also sought to 
overcome the terrible obstacle which barred his way. 
His lamentations moved the broker with pity, for he 
knew him; seizing him with a strong arm, Bastarde 
raised him from the ground and placed him on the 
saddle behind him ; then he spurred the animal vio- 
lently; the horse, fatigued with bis long journey, 
and unaccustomed to such a heavy burden, instead 
of crossing the torrent fell heavily into the midst of 
the abyss. 

“I cannot say in what manner precisely,” added 
the Marquis de Montdragon, “this catastrophe hap- 
pened; however, it is true that the next day, w^hen 
the waters had run off and the stream was restored 
to its usual condition, some peasants found the 
horse drowned, and the hat of the unfortunate 
Bastarde. This hat with a wide brim had floated, 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


37 


and was caught in the branches of a tree, 
withstanding the most careful search, they have 
never been able to recover the body of the broker; 
thousands of persons have been employed in it, for 
they wished to give it the honors of a burial ; every 
one was convinced that the corpse had been carried 
away into the Gier River, into which the fatal stream 
empties itself. As for the innocent, heaven per- 
mitted that he should be saved ; nevertheless his brain 
was so much disordered by the adventure that since 
then, that is to say for the last two years, this young 
man has not failed for one single day to run up and 
down the banks of the stream, uttering the most 
heartrending cries, and pointing to the spot where 
the fall took place, as if to infer that his unfortunate 
companion was still lying there. 

“ The tragical end of Bastarde produced a univer- 
sal mourning in the village of St. Chamond ; all the 
men of his age had lost in him a devoted friend. 
The affliction of his widow appeared very deep at 
first, but she became calm in a surprisingly short 
time. Monica was pretty and rich ; they were not 
slow in seeking her hand; she accepted gracefully 
the flatteries of her numerous admirers. At last a 
hardware dealer from Roanne obtained the prefer- 
ence over all the others; the engagement had taken 
place, to the great disgust of the people of St. Cha- 
mond, who thought that she, whose husband had 
perished in so unhappy a manner, should never dare 
to marry again ; for Monica knew that Bastarde had 


38 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


fallen a victim to his eagerness to reach home ; he 
would have avoided the accident had he put oft* until 
the next day the pleasure of oft’ering her the laces. 
This woman, carried away by an unjustifiable levity, 
declared then to her newly betrothed that she in- 
tended to be married on the day of her feast. This 
was customary in several of our cantons; but she 
did not reflect that her feast fell precisely on the day 
following the anniversary of the death of her hus- 
band. Some charitable person reminded her of this. 
Monica then wished to postpone the wedding until 
the commencement of the following week; but her 
betrothed, a determined man, refused to do so, say- 
ing that if he withdrew from the first determination, 
the people of St. Chamond would imagine that he 
recoiled before the fear of the charivari with which 
they threatened the newly-married pair. In short, 
the workmen of our village, indignant at seeing 
Monica, the mother of two children, marry again so 
quickly, have raised, as they said, a formidable chari- 
vari; one-half of the population were to take part in 
it. On his side, the hardware dealer from Roanne 
invited to his wedding a large number of relations 
and friends, making them promise to revenge the 
insult that they were about to offer to his wife. 
This man did not fear warning the people of St. 
Chamond that if they approached too near the ter- 
race of Monica’s house that he would fire upon them. 
Our young people have not been in the least intimi- 
dated by this threat ; they determined to go beyond 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


39 


the ravine to give the charivari, which has been an- 
nounced for a long time in a most pompous manner. 
This morning, the 4th of May, the marriage was 
celebrated in the church of a little parish on the 
wife’s domain. The charivari was to have taken 
place towards noon ; the magistrates strongly op- 
posed it, fearing that it would result in some bloody 
collision. The wedding took place about ten o’clock 
this morning, and this is what happened at the same 
time: instead of floods, as in the preceding years, 
\ve have had for three months a most destructive 
drought. The bed of the stream, instead of rushing 
with tumultuous weaves, has been changed into a 
dusty road, the wind has even swept out the sand 
with which the holes were filled. Some young boys 
were playing on this sandy strand ; the eldest wished 
to sound the depth of one of these vast tunnels. He 
found, under the first bed of sand, a human skull, 
dressed with a very well-furnished head of hair. 
He uttered cries of fright; his companions, having 
run there, dug out this head, which rested on large 
shoulders. The noise of such an extraordinary dis- 
covery in a few moments reached St. Chamond; a 
crowd of men repaired to the stream, and drew out 
from thence the body of the silk broker, which, 
having fallen into a deep and close tunnel, had not 
been carried away by the rushing waters ; it had re- 
mained there buried in the sand. This excavation 
being half empty, by reason of the long drought, the 
head of the corpse had easily appeared at the sur- 


40 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


face; decomposition, although it had taken place, 
had not spread so far as to emit, a very strong odor. 
They prepared a coffin immediately, then the parish 
priest of St. Chamoiid came; they raised the body, 
and proceeded to bury it with all the ceremonies pre- 
scribed by the Church. A considerable crowd were 
eager to accompany the mortal remains of the unfor- 
tunate Bastarde to the cemetery. Thus, in a few 
hours’ interval, one priest has blessed the second 
marriage of Monica, and another priest has buried 
her first husband. Two relations of Bastarde were 
chief mourners. One odd idea entered their heads; 
they placed in a little silver bowl the package of 
laces that the silk broker carried in his side-pocket 
to offer to his wife; they were damp, but entire. 
These two relations made their way towards the 
house of the newly-married ones; the crowd of the 
curious who escorted them stopped, nevertheless, on 
this side of the ravine which serves as the boundary 
line between the two parishes. Both deputies ad- 
vanced silently towards the terrace; the hardware 
dealer from Roanne, who was watching from his 
garden with his friends, with the intention of re- 
pulsing vigorously the charivari, allowed the tw^o in- 
dividuals to approach, as their manner indicated no 
hostility. They entered the house, and asked the 
favor of speaking to the bride, who received them 
with a somewhat embarrassed air. The eldest of the 
envoys said to her in a very solemn tone : 

“ ‘ Monica, we have come to ofler you the laces that 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


41 


Bastarde was to have given you on the day of your 
feast; that is two years ago; they belong to you, take 
them.’ 

“ The woman seemed about to faint; the two rela- 
tions, profiting by the confusion occasioned by this 
scene, slipped out of the parlor, and reached the 
road. But at the expiration of a few moments the 
hardware dealer had refiected, and, anxious to re- 
venge the insult that his wife had just received, he 
set out, with all his friends, in pursuit of the en- 
voys, to beat them soundly. The people of St. Cha- 
mond, who were looking on from the other side of 
the ravine, thought that their companions were in 
some danger; they therefore suddenly crossed the 
stream to come to their assistance. It has resulted 
in a terrible battle, in which the bridegroom has re- 
ceived a broken leg. His friends have carried him 
off on their shoulders. The confusion that you ob- 
served on entering our village, ordinarily so quiet 
and peaceful, arose from the extraordinary and con- 
flicting events with which this day has been filled. 
My little epic poem is finished, my dear cousin,” 
said M. de^ Montdragon ; “ you will pity, without 
doubt, the fate of the unfortunate Bastarde.” 

“Alas!” replied my mother, “I do pity him from 
my very soul, but, on setting out from St. Etienne, 
on the 3d of May, perhaps he had not said his morn- 
ing prayers.” 


4 



CHAPTER III. 

THE YOUNG BARON DE RABASTEINS SOJOURNS SOME TIME 
AT LYONS, THEN HE SETS OUT FOR PROYENCE — THE 
BRIGAND CAUVIN, CALLED THE MAN WITH THREE EYES 
— SINGULAR ADVENTURES OF THE TRAINBEARER OF 
THE BISHOP OF FREJUS. 

I grew older the maternal solicitude of 
Madame de Rabasteins seemed to in- 
crease; she appeared only to live for me. 
Ill the vegetable kingdom the fruit draws 
its life from the tree; in this case the tree drew life 
from the fruit. . Each moment was filled with cruel 
anxieties. They were imprudent enough to relate 
to her the sad occurrence of a child of twelve years 
of age, who having retired to bed in full health, was 
found dead the next morning, in consequence of the 
rupture of an aneurism. Fi'om this time she would 
rise in the night, and approaching my bed softly 
would remain there several hours watching to assure 
herself that I still breathed. It was with much trou- 
ble that Clotilde, the maid, succeeded in taking her 
back to her alcove. ; 





THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


43 


The Marquis of Montdragon wished to keep us 
with him until the end of May. On leaving this 
estimable relative we returned to Lyons, where my 
mother wished to sojourn. A number of ladies of 
her own age, who had been educated in the same 
convent, overwhelmed her with marks of friendship 
and tenderness, so that we remained in this city until 
the commencement of August, 1744. At last, we 
were preparing to leave positively, when an event 
took place which forced us to remain against our 
will. 

On the evening of the 7th of August, an extra- 
ordinary rumor was spread abroad in the second city 
in the kingdom. For several months numerous 
legions of well-disciplined troops were assembled on 
the eastern frontiers. . The King, then in Lorraine, 
intended directing himself the campaign that was 
about commencing, but he fell dangerously ill at 
Metz. On the 9th a courier brought the news that 
the illness of the royal patient had increased in the 
most alarming manner. The next day a second mes- 
sage announced that the physicians despaired of 
saving the King. M. de Montdragon arrived in 
great haste from St. Charaond; we learned the fact, 
and it caused my mother to understand the trouble 
that she would have in travelling under such cir- 
cumstances. On the 14th, a third courier, coming 
directly from Metz, declared that at the time of his 
departure the monarch was still more ill, and that 
the Bishop of Soissons had administered to him dur- 


44 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


ing the day the last sacraments. From the moment 
that the noise of this news was spread abroad in 
every quarter, the churches and the smallest chapels 
were filled with the faithful, who united in the in- 
tention of asking Heaven for the preservation of 
those precious days. Inspired by this noble motive, 
my tutor and myself led Madame de Habasteins 
to the church of St. Hizier, a short distance from 
our lodgings. In passing through the streets we 
remarked that consternation sat on every face; the 
tradespeople, gathered in little groups, discussed the 
news among them with manifest and deeply-felt 
afiliction ; they drew near and questioned one another 
without being acquainted. 

On coming out of the church of St. Nizier, at 
the end of an hour of prayer, my mother expressed 
the desire of going to pay a visit to the Superior of 
the Abbey of St. Pierre, with whom she was par- 
ticularly well acquainted. It was necessary, to reach 
this place, to pass through the centre of the city; 
we saw everywhere anxious people and faces filled 
with consternation. At last we succeeded with diffi- 
culty in reaching the abbey. My mother was an- 
nounced to the Superior, and on being told that she 
would see her immediately, she permitted me to go 
out with my tutor. The crowd of merchants, work- 
men, priests, and laity besieged the gates of the 
Hotel de Ville, where the magistrates held their 
court under the presidency of M. de Fumel, Lieu- 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


45 


teuant-General of the Duke of Yilleroi, Governor 
of the province of Lyons. 

From the midst of this mass of sorrowful people 
arose in an instant the most mournful groans, to 
which the great bell of St. John responded; under 
the solemn circumstances they tolled the bell. Sud- 
denly was heard from the midst of this crowd of 
affrighted people this cry, uttered by a simple work- 
man, “ To Fourvriere ! To Fourvriere!” Immedi- 
ately a thousand voices answered to this call, whose 
value each one understood. At once, men, women, 
and children set off in bands in different directions 
to reach the shores of the Saone and cross this river, 
which separates the city from the old quarter, above 
which rises the mountain of Fourvrière. 

We allowed ourselves to be carried away with the 
crow’d, and, reaching the wharf, we saw Peter’s 
bridge, the only one, crowded with people. A num- 
ber of little boats w^ere there to supply the insuffi- 
ciency of this passage, and they hurried over the 
people who W'ere eager to ascend to the church ded- 
icated to the Blessed Virgin. My tutor, fearing that 
some accident might happen to his pupil, would not 
permit me to go farther, and insisted upon my 
returning to my mother at the Abbey St. Pierre. 
The streets, lately so crowded, appeared to us now 
deserted; in short, in a few hours, half of the pop- 
ulation on the right shore were crowding the several 
roads which led to the hill. 

The city remained for three days plunged in mortal 


46 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


fear. At last, on the evening of the 17th, a courier 
arrived breathless, and descended from his horse 
before the Hotel de Ville. A few moments after, 
the provost appeared on the balcony, surrounded 
with magistrates; he announced, in a voice trem- 
bling with emotion, to the crowd assembled on the 
Place des Terreaux, that the danger had passed, and 
that the King was much better. 

What cries of joy arose on the reception of this 
good news, and when the courier went out of the 
Hotel de Ville, they surrounded him, they raised 
him, carried him off on their shoulders, and covered 
him entirely with the richest and most beautiful 
ribands. The next day a second message came to 
confirm the good news of the evening before, adding 
to it a most miraculous coincidence, which excited 
great enthusiasm among the people of Lyons, who 
were full of faith. The crisis, which turned so favor- 
ably for the King, had taken place exactly on the 15th 
of August, the day of the Blessed Virgin’s feast. 
Such a great blessing was due to the intercession of 
our Lady of Fourvriere, and every one in Lyons 
could claim the merit of having contributed to the 
health of the monarch by their fervent prayers. At 
the time that I witnessed this event I had scarcely 
entered my seventeenth year; my judgment was but 
slightly formed, yet my heart was singularly touched 
by the sight of such deep grief and such excessive 
joy. I felt then the value of a King who knew how 
to inspire his people with such emotions. 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


47 


We left Lyons on the 27th of August, intending to 
travel through Provence, in order to visit the estates 
that I possessed between Cannes and Antibes. On 
returning from this excursion, we were to revisit the 
Dauphiné, and pass the rest of the autumn in an old 
castle situated in the midst of the mountains, between 
Montélimart and Nyons. 

My tutor, twenty-four years of age, did not ac- 
company us. For a long time he had felt himself 
drawn toward the vocation of the priesthood; he 
thanked my mother for all her kindness, and left us 
to enter the Seminary of St. Irénée, where he was 
intimately acquainted with one of the directors. The 
pure motive which induced this young man to retire 
from the world, produced in my soul a sensation 
which was never effaced; not a single day passed 
that I did not think of it seriously. 

A sudden rising of the waters of the Rhone de- 
tained us for two days in the town of Tain. We 
then pursued our route as far as Brignolles, where 
the Countesses of Provence bring their children on 
account of the extreme salubrity of the air. Such a 
preference should necessarily reccommend this town 
to the inhabitants of the surrounding country. In 
short, nurseries flowed into its bosom; never had I 
seen so many little children; every door-sill was car- 
peted with them ; they crowded the streets, every- 
where our coachman had to take great care not to 
crush some of them under the horses’ feet. 

The relay next to Brignolles was Fiassans, a large 


48 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


market-town, around which the House of Coudé pos- 
sessed some beautiful woodland. They told us that 
a rich old officer kept the post and owed it to the 
protection of the Prince of Coudé. While the 
grooms were changing our horses, the postmaster 
gave to the postboy, who was getting on his horse, 
an express order, which seemed to concern our- 
selves; we could not understand the sense of it, 
since he spoke in Provençal. My mother had a 
very fine hearing, and the least incident caused her 
uneasiness. She wished to know what he was 
doing, and did not hesitate inviting the postmaster 
to approach, and explain the meaning of this order. 

“ Madam,” said the officer, in French, “ I ordered 
the postboy to show you Cauvin’s stone.” 

‘‘Who is Cauvin ?” asked my mother. 

“He was a famous robber, called ‘ The man with 
the three eyes.’ He rendered himself celebrated 
throughout the country by the boldest and drollest 
tricks. They broke him alive on the wheel last 
year.” 

The blind like persons to relate their histories to 
them, in order to have the gratification of relating 
theirs in their turn. 

“ Sir,” said Madame de Rabasteins, in a friendly 
tone, “ will you then tell us some of the great deeds 
of this Cauvin ? I will pay for another post-stage, 
and if you deem it necessary I will descend from my 
carriage. ” 

“ Madam, do not disturb yourself,” replied the 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


49 


postmaster, “ I can speak to yon very conveniently 
at your carriage-door.’’ 

My mother arranged herself so as to hear better, 
and her face colored with pleasure when the nar- 
rator commenced. 

“ Cauviii started by being a poacher; compelled 
to fly from the pursuit of the guards of the Prince 
of Conde, he was forced to abandon the forest of 
Flassans, which furnished him with the means of 
nourishing his family with game. Reduced to de- 
spair, he became a highway robber. This is the 
manner in which he established himself in this new 
trade. He lived with his wife in a most miserable 
little hut, built in the midst of the heath, about five 
hundred steps from the road to Italy that you are 
travelling at this moment. On this road and on a 
level w'ith the hut was the site of an inn lately set 
on tire by accident; the proprietors had removed it 
entirely; the materials were carefully carried away 
from the ground. However, they neglected to take 
away, on account of its great weight, a large stone, 
of about eight feet in length, and hollowed in such 
a way as to serve as a trough for the watering of 
horses. This stone remained on the ground, the 
hollow side leaning against a line of the thickest 
brushwood. Cauvin appropriated this stone to him- 
self after a fashion, and resolved to make it serve for 
the accomplishment of his designs. He was a fear- 
less man, vigorous and agile. He took it upon him- 
self to shave his hair ofl* up to the top of his head, 
5 


60 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


and to paint in the middle of his forehead a third 
eye, by means of some powerful corrosive substance. 
Such an ornament rendered a physiognomy already 
hideous, still more frightful. He abandoned the use 
of a hat, in order that they might judge better of his 
beauty. Cauvin’s wife kept watch upon a slight 
eminence, and warned her husband when she per- 
ceived some traveller on a horse, or some post-stage ; 
the man' ran, armed with a blunderbuss, and leaned 
on a hillock, which commanded the road. When the 
traveller arrived at the rising ground, Cauvin would 
order him to throw down his purse, silver, and jew- 
els. The unfortunate one, terrified at the sight of 
this horrible face, preferred giving up his money to 
his life. The traveller who was determined enough 
to resist, fell under a shower of balls. Several in- 
habitants of these cantons have perished in this man- 
ner. The expedition finished, Cauvin ran to conceal 
himself in the hollow stone, remaining there during 
the night, then going to sleep in his hut, and com- 
mencing again the next day. The searches of the 
Marshalsea amounted to nothing; the brigand would 
disappear before the horsemen without their being 
able to discover the place which served him for a re- 
treat. This sudden disappearance, and still more the 
three eyes^ acquired for the poacher the reputation of 
a sorcerer. Here is an adventure that happened last 
autumn. 

“ The Marquis of Rannes possesses some estates in 
this country. He had just left Versailles; the noise 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


51 


of bis success in the court circles had preceded him 
in Provence ; every castle gave him a feast; the most 
brilliant reunions had taken place in his honor; he 
appeared in the dashing costume of a colonel of 
dragoons, with silver-gilt helmet, and short sword 
very richly chased; a thing elsewhere very ridiculous, 
for gentlemen generally only wore their uniform 
while in the active service of the regiment. M. de 
Latour, President of the Parliament of Aix, had gath- 
ered together the flower of the nobility in a castle in 
the neighborhood ; M. de Ramies made his appearance 
there in his brilliant costume, and was the observed 
of all observers. He was returning toward evening 
to his dwelling, accompanied by two grooms, and 
trilling the last romance that he had sung at the 
house of the President, in the presence of a swarm 
of beauties, when the infamous Cauvin interrupted 
him suddenly in the midst of a most beautiful rou- 
lade, crying to him in a terrible voice, ‘Stop !’ At 
the sight of this face laden with three eyes, the two 
grooms, seized with fright, let loose their bridles 
and fled through the country, leaving their master 
alone in the presence of the bandit Cauvin pre- 
sented to M. de Rannes the mouth T)f his renowned 
blunderbuss, and ordered him to throw to the ground 
his watch and his purse, which he did very quickl3^ 
The sight of the silver-gilt helmet and the rich 
short sword excited the cupidity of the thief; he 
insisted, in a manner that allowed of no refusal, 
that the colonel should throw both at the same 


52 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


time on the road. Our brilliant colonel saw himself 
reduced to the necessity of returning home disarmed 
and bareheaded. He set out immediately for Paris, 
where he was never heard to speak of his encounter 
with the poacher. Cauvin had picked up in this 
trade of highway robbery a sum* of money consid- 
erable enough to enable him to buy a house in the 
neighborhood of Monaco; but he learned that several 
English families were about going to Nice to spend 
the next winter; they were to come to this town in 
passing through Provence. The poacher ran to post 
himself in his accustomed ambuscade, thinking that 
this expedition would procure for him considerable 
booty. In short, several post-stages were entirely 
stripped by this bold rogue. This new rascality, ex- 
ecuted with surprising dexterit}^, attracted the atten- 
tion of the magistrates. 

“The cavalry of the Marshalsea of several brigades 
were gathered together in Flassans, and received 
orders to execute a general beating of the bush in 
order to find the bandit; a number of hunters 
united themselves with the military, with the inten- 
tion of delivering the country from the perpetual 
fright it was kept in by the audacious feats of the 
man with the three eyes. During one entire week 
the most active searches produced no result. At 
several turns they saw the brigand appear in the 
midst of the heath, then he would disappear when 
they believed they had him. The soldiers and 
hunters, worn out with fatigue, returned to their 


THE MYSTEÉIOUS CASTLE. 


53 


lodgings very sorrowfall}", when the continued bark- 
ing of several dogs attracted their attention. These 
dogs yelped with violence, seeking to penetrate the 
thicket against which the hollow stone leaned. The 
hunters imagined that this mass of brushwood con- 
cealed some great beast; they, therefore, resolved 
to catch it, deeming that this capture would be at 
least a feeble recompense for their disappointment. 
The dogs stopped before this obstacle, and would not 
cease barking. The first hunter discovered through 
the briers a sort of path which ended at the centre of 
the hollow stone, upon which stone they all had been 
seated many times during this conflict. Every one 
gathered around this wonderful hiding-place, and 
drew from thence Master Cauvin, like a bird taken 
in a trap. The bandit was lying at full length; the 
blunderbuss at his side; his gourd-bottle had been 
empty for a long time, and if the search had con- 
tinued two days longer with the same activity, the 
robber, compelled to keep himself concealed, would 
have died of hunger in his tomb; which would have 
been much better than to perish by the hand of the 
executioner, in the midst of the most frightful tor- 
tures.” 

The narrator having finished his discourse bade 
us good-bye, and gave the postilion the signal of 
departure. On arriving at the next relay my mother 
ordered me to pay for an extra post-stage for the 
history of Cauvin. The same evening we reached 
Fréjus, without accident, whose bishop, M. du Bel- 


54 


THE MYSTERfoUS CASTLE. 


lay, was related to my family. Instead of a beauti- 
ful cathedral, or magnificent Episcopal palace, our 
relation showed us in detail the superb remains of 
Roman antiquities which surrounded the town. He 
filled one of the most gloomy and least important 
sees in France. His predecessor, the Cardinal de 
Fleuri, styled himself Bishop of Fréjus by divine in- 
dignation. Nevertheless, this bishopric was worth 
thirty thousand livres, which enabled M. du Bellay 
to keep up a very fine establishment. 

The prelate retained in his service as train-bearer* 
an old lieutenant of the navj^, Knight of St. Louis, 
who was a little, round, plump man, active and jolly; 
his face beamed with happiness notwithstanding that 
a portion of the career of this ofiS.cer had been filled 
witH bitterness; for the Algerians, and still later 
the English, had held him prisoner for more than 
ten years. 

The train-bearer amused my mother very much by 
the recital of his adventures. 

“ In 1718, although very young,” said he, “ I be- 
longed to the staff of a frigate which carried M. de 
Ganay, our minister to Naples. We were ordered, 
on returning, to explore the coast of Sicily. Our 
vessel lay at anchor before Sorrento; they sent me 

* At this period most of the bishops kept in their houses a per- 
son whose ofiSce was to carry the train of their robe at great cere- 
monies ; they were generally retired officers without fortune ; they 
were called train-bearers from the Latin word cauda^ which means 
train. 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


65 


with the ship’s boat and some men to sound the shore 
four miles lower down. We ran into a bay which con- 
cealed the ship’s boat entirely from sight of the frigate ; 
"we were attacked by Algerian pirates ; our resistance 
was most vigorous, but I saw massacred before my 
eyes the sailors who accompanied me. The officer’s 
badge saved my life, unfortunately; in losing* it, I 
should have escaped the horrible treatment which 
awaited me at Algiers. In this infamous country 
human beings are divided into two very distinct 
classes, the conquerors and the conquered; every- 
thing is taught by means of the stick, nor is this 
metaphorical; the European who, led into slavery, 
revolts against this conduct, receives death. I have 
had the proof of it before my eyes several times. 

“Another sea officer, taken prisoner before I was, 
not being able to endure these repeated blows given 
in such an unmerciful manner, threw himself upon 
the man who struck him ; the master raised his 
hand, and at this sign a janissary crushed the head 
of the Christian with an inconceivable rapidity. 

“ These soldiers possess a cunning dexterity which 
is wonderful ; they practice some kind of tricks in a 
very droll manner; they place a pile of plates upon 
the table; the difficulty consists in raising with one 
backstroke of the sword the top plate without break- 
ing the others, and even without shaking them. The 
predecessor of the Dey, whose property I became, 
acted differently with regard to rebellious slaves; he 
had them rolled the whole length of the quay in a 


56 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


cask lined with iron spikes. This sort of punish- 
ment appears to be very old on the African shore; 
it is said Kegulus perished in this manner, a victim 
to the Carthaginian ferocity. 

“ I was purchased by a rich merchant, who fancied 
making me a shoemaker; they furnished me with 
the necessary tools, and my master ordered me to 
make him some shoes of which he presented me the 
model ; my hand had never taken a stitch; I alleged 
my inability in the provincial tongue then much 
used in the Barbary States; I received for my an- 
swer twenty blows with a stick, the next day as many 
more; a daily repetition of the same filled out the 
rest of the week. Stimulated by this kind of en- 
couragement I redoubled my eftbrts to sew, whether 
well or badly; in short, at the expiration of four 
months of this apprenticeship, I succeeded in ofiering 
to my gracious master a charming pair of slippers; 
he then merely remarked to me with his Eastern 
indifterence : I knew that you would end in making 
them. 

“Fate gave me for a companion in captivity the 
captain of a merchantman who came from Havre as 
supercargo to Malta; they decided that he should 
become a gardener. He had been at sea from the 
age of twelve j^ears ; his hands had never touched 
spade or line; he cried out against it; the blows of 
the stick fell heavy upon him; his punishment lasted 
less time than mine; the captain having taken a 
liking to his new trade soon excelled in it, and good 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


57 


treatment succeeded the flagellations. Most joyous 
with his change of fortune, he was one day trilling 
some verses from an old ITorrnandy song, which his 
master, who was walking only a few steps behind 
him, heard; he was one of the Dey’s treasurers; he 
liked above all things the European songs; accord- 
ingly he gave orders that the slave should sing the 
next day before the Mussulman officer. The captain 
had the most false and discordant voice that you 
could possibly ever hear. When he heard it, the Al- 
gerian supposed that this Christian wished to mock 
him, consequently a dozen blows with the stick were 
his reward ; the following day the melody com- 
menced again, and as many more blows of the stick 
bore witness to the discontent of the treasurer; in 
short, to abridge my recital, I shall have the honor of 
telling you that my unhappy friend finished by sing- 
ing most agreeably.” 

My mother wished to know how the train-bearer 
had succeeded in escaping from the chains of slavery. 

I owed, in some manner, this unhoped for favor 
to the most terrible of scourges, to the plague,” re- 
plied the officer. “ My captivity lasted two years 
when the plague broke out in Marseilles. You know 
how many misfortunes this old city had to endure. 
Famine appeared to overwhelm it completely. The 
heart of the Holy Father, ever with the faithful, 
was moved at the news of so much misfortune. 
Clement XI hastened to send vessels to Marseilles 
loaded with wheat. The squadron from Tunis met 


58 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


this convoy of grain and wished to seize it; never- 
theless the Chief of the Barbary States, on learning 
its destination, allowed himself to be touched with 
compassion ; and not only did he give a free passage 
to the ships sent out by the Pope, but he gave them 
an escort of several galleys. 

“ One of the first acts of Cardinal de Fleuri, when 
he became minister, was to liquidate wdth Benoit 
XIII the debt of gratitude that France had con- 
tracted with Clement XI, six years before.* 

“ The Count de Vogué, ambassador extraordinary, 
w^as sent to Borne to thank the Holy Father. At 
the same time another ambassador, loaded with rich 
presents, was sent to the Bey of Tunis, to explain to 
him the sentiments of gratitude that the noble 
conduct of his admiral had inspired the Court of 
France. The same ambassador had the express 
mission of entreating the Bey of Tunis to intercede 
wdth the Dey of Algiers to ransom several hundred 
French captives retained in the city or in the con- 
vict prisons. 

“ The negotiation succeeded, — they do not know by 
what means, — and a few months after some French 
vessels came to take us on board. Without this 


* The City of Marseilles has erected on the Place St. Féréol, a 
monument in honor of those who united in relieving the misery of 
its inhabitants during the plague of 1720. Among the names sig- 
nalized by public gratitude is that of the Bey of Tunis. 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


59 


happy incident having occurred, I should, perhaps, 
still be making slippers in Algiers. 

“I had just obtained the grade of lieutenant in 
the navy,” continued the train-bearer, “when war 
broke out between Spain and England, in 1734. The 
Court of France maintained a neutrality; they per- 
mitted, nevertheless, one hundred navy officers to 
go and serve Her Catholic Majesty as volunteers. I 
was of this number. The frigate Santa Maria, on 
which I was aboard, went out of the Corogue to 
rally the squadron of Cadiz, but arriving at the head 
of the mouth of the Tagus, we were attacked by a 
division of the British squadron. Resistance became 
useless; the frigate fell into the power of the enemy. 
They took the staff officers on board one of the ves- 
sels. I was placed on that commanded by Mr. 
Maitland, an officer of great merit. Hever did any 
Englishman drink as much wine and liquor as Mr. 
Maitland. His face bore ample testimony to his in- 
temperance. The captain had a nose like every other 
human being; but at the end of this nose there was 
a second, the two united formed one enormous nose, 
which was as red as the end of a firebrand. The 
crew called him the burning coal. 

“In coming out of this action, whose termination 
had just been so fatal to us, a frightful tempest at- 
tacked both conquerors and conquered. Every mo- 
ment it seemed that we were about to be engulfed 
in the bottomless abyss; the most fearless were 
aware of the imminence of the danger. In the midst 


60 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


of the desolation on the deck crowded with people, 
a cabin-boy laughed outright on looking at Mr. 
Maitland. He perceiving it, notwithstanding the 
sorrowful prognostications which besieged his mind, 
said to the boy in a brutal tone: ‘ Why do you look 
at rne and laugh?’ ‘Commander,’ replied the cabin- 
boy, ‘as we are all going to be plunged into the 
sea presently, I was thinking of the effect that your 
nose would produce when the water should reach 
it. It would, without doubt, like a burning coal, 
smoke, smoke.’ We could not help laughing at 
this man, notwithstanding the recklessness that 
could prompt a joke in such a perilous moment. 
Contrary to all expectation, the violence of the wind 
suddenly ceased, and we were rescued from a watery 
grave. The fleet pursued its way and all was restored 
to order, but the cabin-boy received a dozen lashes 
for being a little too gay on the subject of his com- 
mander’s nose. The severity that they used in re- 
gard to this poor devil made me fear for myself a 
like fate. My apprehensions were ill-founded; the 
English treated me with courtesy; but they were 
not willing to release me until the end of four years, 
which appeared to me of a frightful length.” 

“Sir Knight,” said Madame de Rabasteins, “this 
second captivity should have disgusted you with sea 
service.” 

“Indeed,” replied the train-bearer, “on my return 
to Fraïice I asked for my retiring pension, and went 
to live in Kiort, my native town. I was able to col- 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


61 


lect together the remains of a very modest fortune 
that my old mother had dispensed very badly. I saw 
the gay world of Niort, and I attended the musical 
parties which were in fashion at that time, and I took 
my part with the flute. Among the number of per- 
sons that I saw there the most frequently was a 
banker, a most complete original, an old bachelor, 
and most singularly music-mad. He owned a very 
pretty house whose front alone had cost more than the 
whole building. Four Corinthian columns decorated 
this entrance, which seemed to lead to a princely 
palace instead of the dwelling of a simple citizen. 
All the town talked of this portico so recently fln- 
ished. I went one day to pay a visit to the banker, 
whom gout retained a prisoner to his room, and 
spoke to him of his house, as a very sure means of 
flattering the self-love of the financier. ‘If you wish,’ 
said he to me, ‘I will sell you a life interest in it.’ 
‘Ah, sir, you jest, without doubt; I am worth next 
to nothing.’ ‘Never mind, you are a brave officer. 
Ishould.be charmed with you, because you are so 
useful and agreeable. I have no near relative, and 
the term of my life has almost drawn to a close; 
this is the arrangement that I propose to you. Un- 
fortunately, I am not able to go out; you will come 
every day to my house after my dinner, and you 
will play the flute for one hour, but you will only 
play the airs that I tell you, of which I will fur- 
nish you the music; the least negligence on 'your 
part will suflice to annul the contract; a serious ill- 


62 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


ness, well ascertained, will alone be admitted as an 
excuse ; and, after my death, this house with its 
superb portico will become your property.’ 

‘‘ I believed at first that he was joking ; but he 
spoke seriously. I rejoiced, for nothing appeared to 
me easier than the accomplishment of a compact so 
simple. I accepted it courageously ; the different 
articles of the contract were drawn up in writing 
forthwith, and signed by the two contracting parties. 
I went then to play the flute for one hour at the 
house of the hypochondriac, who directed me to play 
a series of the most stupid, the most languishing, the 
most sickening airs that it was possible to imagine. 
I asked to be allowed to vary the catalogue; the 
man refused obstinately, recalling the conditions of 
the treaty. 

“At the end of a few weeks, I perceived that the 
chain was heavier than I had at first believed, and 
what was most distracting, my tyrannical adversary 
seemed to return to life; one would have believed 
that the notes of my flute exercised over his nerves 
a magical effect. His pale, wan face bloomed out 
again ; his dull eyes sparkled with light. As for me, 
I experienced sensations entirely opposite; an inde- 
finable uneasiness oppressed my whole being. I 
asked as a favor permission to make some changes ; 
I could not obtain it. Ho despot ever exercised his 
power in so unmerciful a manner. My friends grew 
alarmed, for I became attenuated before their eyes, 
and my sprightliness totally disappeared ; neverthe- 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


63 


less the prospect of possessing in a short time a 
house whose sale would assure me of a comfortable 
existence, sustained my courage. I pursued my task 
for eight months; but by this time I was no longer 
in a condition to continue, I had no more breath ; I 
fled from Niort, and sent the hypochondriac and his 
portico flying. For a long time these detestable airs 
burdened my ears, and the remembrance of them 
still makes me shudder.” 

“ The banker without doubt died a short time 
after your flight from Niort?” asked my mother. 

“Notât all, madam,” replied he ; “this event took 
place six years ago, and my tyrant still lives. They 
assured me that he had tried to make other dupes. 
As for me I shall never be tempted to leave Bishop 
du Bellay to go and reclaim the ratification of our 
treaty.” 

This train-bearer called himself the Knight of the 
Bouchetiere. He took care to tell us that one of his 
ancestors was killed at the feet of King John at 
the battle of Poictiers, a circumstance which was 
scarcely worth the trouble of recollecting. Not only 
was M. de la Bouchetiere very amusing in relating 
the tribulations of his life, but he kn.ew also how to 
defend with warmth the glory of his country. Among 
the number of persons who were then visiting at the 
house of the Bishop of Fréjus, was the Marquis de 
Eietti, who was particularly distinguished, and who 
filled in Avignon one of the highest positions in the 
Papal administration. This stranger took pleasure 


64 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


in speaking in the most injurious terms of Louis 
XIV ; he even showed a ridiculous and stubborn 
animosity. The company disdained, without doubt, 
through politeness, to oppose his opinions. At last 
M. de la Bouclietiere, pushed to the extremity, said 
to him : “ Do you know, sir, that the cross of St. 
Louis, suspended from the buttonhole of my coat, 
places me under an obligation of defending the 
memory of the monarch who has founded the mili- 
tary order of which I am proud to carry the badge? 
Let us see, now, what are the wrongs that you im- 
pute to Louis XIV.” 

“ The first,” replied M. Ilietti, with warmth, ‘‘ was 
of having completely ruined my country, Avignon ; 
first, in placing it under sequestration five or six times 
during his reign, and, in the second place, in destroy- 
ing the industry of the town by means of an odious 
proceeding.” 

“ I confess,” replied M. de la Bouchetiere, “ that I 
am completely ignorant of this particular fact ; deign 
to let us hear it.” 

“ Willingly ; you are not ignorant in the least, sir, 
that Louis XIV came to visit the southern provinces 
of his kingdom in the winter of 1660 with Anne of 
Austria, his mother?” 

“Permit me, M. de Rietti,” replied the train- 
bearer. “ I know perfectly well the details of this 
journey, and you, as a good Catholic, and as a 
citizen of Avignon, you should thank the King for 
having delivered you at this time from most dis- 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


65 


agreeable neighbors, in expelling from Orange the 
Dutch garrison that the House of Hassau kept in 
this town for a very long time. This troop, com- 
posed entirely of Huguenots, were spread abroad 
through the country, and pillaged the poor inhabi- 
tants ; they carried their ravages as far as the ram- 
parts of Avignon ; many times the vice-legate was 
obliged to implore the assistance of the governor of 
the province. Louis XIY was not content with 
chasing the Dutch garrison from Orange ; he demol- 
ished, stone by stone, the formidable citadel that 
the princes of Hassau had erected at great expense, 
and that they insolently decorated with the title of 
Broken Heart of the Catholics; from this moment, 
thanks to the intervention of the King of France, 
your countrymen had no longer anything to fear 
from these continual attacks which troubled their 
repose. How continue, I beg, the enumeration of 
the wrongs with which you reproach Louis XIV.’’ 

M. de Kietti, slightly confused, continued, saying: 
“ I respect your observation, and I do not refuse to 
declare that the destruction of the citadel of Orange 
was a true service rendered the country. Here is, 
however, another incident that I cannot regard as a 
service. Louis XIV and his mother having made a 
pretty long sojourn at Aix, manifested a desire to 
pass the Holy Week in Avignon. The vice-legate 
sent to the prince his first ofiicer to announce to him 
that they would be too happy to receive the King of 
France. Our city counted then in her midst eighty 
6 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


thousand inhabitants. The manufactures of silk and 
velvet gave employment to thirty thousand workmen 
from the interior, or from the villages in the suburbs. 
Every one was filled with zeal to give to the very 
Christian King a reception worthy of him. The 
manufacturers of stufi*s carpeted the bridge of St. 
Benazet, which still exists, with pieces of velvet of 
the most brilliant colors, whose ends hung down 
into the Rhone. Thus Louis XIY passed really over 
velvet the whole length of the bridge. My father 
witnessed thi,^ solemnity; he told me, I should con- 
fess it, that all the spectators were astonished at the 
grace and beauty of this prince, who was then only 
twenty-eight years of age.* The most humble citi- 
zen of Avignon put himself to some expense in 
order that this reception should be agreeable to the 
sovereign who was the object of it. 

“ Do you know how he repaid this heartfelt recep- 
tion ? by destroying the prosperity of our city, In- 
stead of passing a week in Avignon, as it had been 
announced, Louis XIV passed an entire month there, 
by design, and during this sojourn the prince and 
the worthy ministers who accompanied him, em- 
ployed all imaginable means to bribe with money 
the head workmen and the thousands of operatives 
on silk stulFs; he had them led under escort into 
Languedoc, and distributed them between Lyons, 


* Two months after this Louis XIV married Marie Thérèse of 
Austria. 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


67 


Nimes, and Tours. Some years later Colbert over- 
bid his master and exhausted the same sources. 
From this moment our manufactures declined rap- 
idly, and to-day Avignon counts scarcely forty thou- 
sand inhabitants, and they preserve there a proverb 
appropriate to the circumstance : ‘ God save us from 
a northwest wind and the visits of the King of 
France.’ 

“ Do you believe now,” said M. de Rietti, in con- 
clusion, “ that my recriminations are well founded?” 

“I cannot deny,” replied M. de la Bouchetière, 
“the justice of your reasoning. As a countryman 
of Avignon you have cause to complain ; as for me, 
as a Frenchman, I ought to thank you for enlight- 
ening me on the score of Louis XIY, about things 
that many of my fellow-countrymen are certainly 
ignorant, and I am of that number. These particu- 
lars increase still more the admiration that I profess 
for^his monarch. Your recital has proved to me 
that in the midst of the intoxication of feasts and 
adulation, this prince, still so young, never lost sight 
of the true interests of his country.” 

This judicious reflection terminated the quarrel, 
and the rest of the company thanked the amiable 
train-bearer warmly for having so well defended the 
memory of the great King. 


CHAPTER IV. 


THE YOUNG BARON DE RABASTEINS AND HIS MOTHER 
GO TO CANNES — TOUCHING EPISODE OF THE IRON 
MASK. 


HE next day we bade adieu to the town 
of Fréjus, with the intention of reaching 
Cannes, the last stage of our journey. 
The journey that we were about com- 
mencing would be very long, not precisely on account 
of the length of the road, but by reason of the diffi- 
culties without number which presented theraseives 
on this route. The bishop insisted upon our taking 
with us two horse-guards of the Marshalsea as an 
escort, for it was necessary to cross the forest of 
Esterel, an habitual asylum for the criminals of Pro- 
vénce. At the end of three hours’ travel we arrived 
at the centre of this forest, where we found relays 
of post-stages; picket soldiers of the Marshalsea 
guarded it constantly. At the moment of our en- 
trance into this place an extreme commotion reigned 
there; the robbers, whose audacity respects nothing, 
had carried off two horses from the stables of this 





THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


69 


stopping-place. My mother, horribly fatigued with 
the jolting of the carriage, wished to rest for two 
hours at this house. 

The sun commenced to decline when we set out 
from Esterel; two new horse-guards of the Marshal- 
sea had relieved those that we had taken at Fréjus; 
my mother called them dragoons. The forest, whose 
landscape was only remarkable for gloom, took at 
this moment the most sinister aspect; enormous fir 
trees spread out their giga^ltic branches. These trees 
presented some very odd groups: some had the ap- 
pearance of a gallows to which were suspended the 
corpses of the condemned ; others, stripped of their 
branches, presented the form of greasy poles, up 
which hideous skeletons were climbing. The rays 
of the setting sun shed a livid color over this fan- 
tastic scene. These strange images so struck my 
imagination that I scarcely dared breathe. Large 
ravines, rushing torrents, and steep precipices inter- 
sected the route that we were travelling; no human 
being appeared in our way; we heard no sound save 
the noise that our carriage and the horse’s feet made; 
this noise was mingled occasionally with the roaring 
of wild beasts which filled the woods. 

My mother appeared crushed under the weight of 
sorrowful reflections. She had just drawn from her 
pocket a rosary, when the carriage was upset in a 
pond that the postilion did not know how to avoid. 
Scarcely were we extricated from this difficulty than 
I uttered, involuntarily, a cry of fright. My mother 


70 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


sprang towards me to know the cause of my terror. 
On turning, after the commotion, I found myself in 
the presence of a most singular being, who held her- 
self cramped up and hanging to the carriage door. 
It was a sort of young woman, with dishevelled hair, 
covered with rags, and who had only one arm. She 
looked at us with haggard eyes, articulating some 
provincial words unintelligable to me. One of our 
horsemen was walking, and holding his horse by the 
bridle, he said to us: “Fear nothing, it is only 
Manon ; give her six small pieces of silver, and she 
will take herself off very quickly.’’ 

I hastened to throw some pieces of money to the 
other side of the road. The woman jumped lightly 
to the ground, seized her prey with avidity, and sank 
down among the underwood, casting upon us the 
most frightful glances. 

“Dragoon,” said my mother, leaning on the car- 
riage door, “ will you be so good as to tell us who is 
this Manon?” 

The horseman approaching the carriage, said: 
“ Manon is the daughter of a woodcutter. She had 
received the betrothal ring, when she fell from a high 
tree, breaking the left arm, and amputation became 
necessary. The pain of the operation did not make 
her forget the ring. She demanded with great per- 
sistency that they should ti\ke it off the dead hand, 
and put it on one of the fingers of the right hand. 
Her intended, a woodcutter like the father, did not 
wish to marry a woman who could not work, so he 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


71 


wedded another. At this, Manon became crazy, and 
here she is.’’ 

This history was related in a savage voice, which 
increased the kind of terror that I experienced in the 
midst of these dark passes. My mother having 
buried herself in the carriage, said to me in a low 
voice, “This military man is less pathetic in the re- 
cital of his little epic than M. de Montdragon.” 

At last we emerged from this frightful forest of 
Estereljust at the moment when the veil of night 
enveloped all nature. We journeyed still for some 
time before reaching Cannes. This little town rose 
upon a parallel line with the seashore. We pos- 
sessed in the neighborhood some pretty considerable 
domains, but there were no buildings on them. 
W'e therefore lodged at the house of M. La Croix, 
the bailiff of the property, a man who had great ex- 
perience in law and who had regulated and attended 
to all the business of my uncle, the baronet, for 
thirty years. The windows of our apartments 
opened on the quay; the sea stretched before us out 
of sight. This spectacle, entirely new for me, ex- 
cited in the highest degree my astonishment. The 
day after our arrival, I remained all the morning 
lounging on one of the balconies. My mother, 
placed beside me, enjoyed the pleasure which this 
imposing scene seemed to cause me, and the help- 
lessness which prevented her from enjoying it her- 
self, did not draw from her the least murmur against 
the harshness of her fate. 

I discovered in front of me, towards the extremity 


72 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


of the horizon, a dark mass, which seemed to balance 
itself in the midst of the billows; from the bosom of 
this mass sprang up a group of high houses. For a 
long time I sought, vainly, to explain to myself what 
this could be, when M. La Croix entered the room, 
coming, as he said, to take the orders of Madame 
de Rabasteins. I hastened to question him on the 
subject of this foggy line which I perceived before 
me. 

“ These are the islands of Terins,” replied he; “the 
one which presents itself first to our sight is called 
St. Marguerite; it is used for the state prisoners.” 

When pronouncing these last words the bailitf 
sensibly lowered his voice as if he feared that some 
one w^ould hear him. My mother, the least incident 
awakening her curiosity, commenced saying: “Ex- 
plain to us, sir, the difterence which exists between 
the state prisoners and the other prisoners.” 

“The first,” replied the bailifi^*, “ are very often 
very good people, who have nothing in common with 
thieves and assassins. They are guilty of political 
crimes, upon the gravity of which the King alone 
pronounces as a last resort. They generally shut up. 
these persons in fortresses designed for this use; the 
island of St. Marguerite is one of them. I saw set 
out for this island,” continued M. La Croix, “ forty- 
seven years ago, — I was then twenty-one, — a most 
mysterious being, whom they detained in the fortress 
for twelve years. The magistrates of Cannes had 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


73 


put in requisition fifteen large barges to conduct to the 
island the suite of the governor, and the soldiers who 
escorted him. The announcement of this expedition 
produced a certain agitation through the country. 
Impelled by curiosity, I entreated the master of one 
of these barges to admit me on board in the capacity 
of oarsman. Having obtained it I dressed myself as 
a sailor. Our little fleet, directed by a pilot, cast 
anchor at the foot of the ramparts of the fortress. 
We found there the large ship’s boat in attendance 
and a gunboat, armed, for battle, recently arrived 
from the Antilles. At the end of a few moments’ 
waiting, we saw pass out from the castle gate a 
group of officers who crowded around a sedan chair 
hermetically closed. The governor, a terrible man, 
and already very old, wished that they should place 
the sedan chair, as it was, on board the ship’s boat 
in attendance. They observed to him that it was a 
thing impossible on account of the violence of the 
wind. The embarkation charged with this addi- 
tional burden ran the risk of being capsized. 

“ The governor, whom they called M. St. Mars, 
having consulted for a few moments, ordered the 
soldiers to turn back as far as the ramparts, and to 
riffht-about in such a manner as to turn the back to 
the sea. Then he opened himself the sedan chair, 
and caused a man to come out wrapped up in a large 
cloak, and his head covered with an old gray hat 
with a large brim, without feathers or ornaments. 
Nothing indicated in a precise manner the age of 
7 


74 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


the prisoner ; nevertheless, his uncertain step and 
the bend of his back, made you believe that he was 
rather old than young. The vessel on which I was 
aboard, and the ship’s boat in attendance, went in 
consort, which permitted me to see very distinctly 
all that passed in this latter embarkation. 

‘‘At the moment when the prisoner was seating 
himself on the bench, there came up a squall of 
wind which took off his large old hat. We saw 
then the head' of the unknown: it was completely 
wrapped up in a head-dress of black velvet, which 
was drawn down over the whole face; the mask was 
fastened behind by means of clasps of steel, which 
were very large and elastic ; these clasps extended 
down under the ears. They had made in the velvet, 
which covered the face, some openings for the eyes, 
the mouth, and the nose. The governor himself 
hastened to replace the hat upon the head of this 
strange personage. 

“ The squadron, filled with soldiers, arrived as far 
as the strand of Cannes, where was a large litter 
surrounded with platoons of cavalry, who had been 
stationed there since morning. M. de St.' Mars 
caused the prisoner to mount it and placed himself 
opposite. This litter, which was also as carefully 
closed as the sedan chair, took the direction to 
Fréjus; the horsemen of the escort did not cease 
carrying their swords unsheathed. Several persons 
had seen, as well as myself, the steel clasps which 
fastened behind the prisoner’s velvet head-dress. 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


75 


They related this peculiarity, exaggeratingthe size of 
these metal springs. This rumor, which grew be- 
yond all belief from the most simple things, did not 
fail to publish that this mysterious personage wore 
constantly an iron mask.’’ After these words, the 
bailiff became suddenly silent, like a man astonished 
at having said so much. 

My mother listened to M. La Croix as attentively 
as possible ; not hearing him speak any longer, she 
took up in her turn the thread of the discourse, 
saying : 

“ M. Bailiff, you must absolutely tell us all that 
you know about this prisoner, I wish it, I ask it as 
a favor ? ” 

M. La Croix did not reply. Madame de Rabas- 
teins returned to the charge, making use of the most 
engaging expressions. She would have liked to have 
been able to act on this occasion, as at the relay at 
Flassans, and to say, “ I will pay for another post.” 
This means would have been impracticable on such 
an occurrence. The bailiff*, overcome by the solic- 
itations that were addressed to him with so much 
warmth, showed himself disposed to satisfy the im- 
patience of the Baroness de Rabasteins; he com- 
menced, as a preamble, by assuring himself of the 
doors being closed, and asked permission to shut the 
w'indows. 

“ I am very intimately acquainted,” said he, “ with' 
M. de Latil, who, during the past year, has filled 
the position of major of the Isle of St. Marguerite. 


76 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


This officer, thirty years of age, succeeded in this 
post an old man, who tilled the same situation for 
half a century, and witnessed, as well as myself, the 
departure of the masked prisoner (1698). Last spring 
M. de Latil, profiting by a momentary absence of 
the governor, had the kindness to let me visit the 
interior of the island as well as the prisoners, a favor 
which I had vainly solicited until this period. I 
hastened at once to question him about this illus- 
trious stranger, of whom my contemporaries had pre- 
served the remembrance throughout the country. 
He related to me part of some versions, more or less 
singular, which were circulated as well among the 
vulgar as in the higher classes, adding the curious 
information that his predecessor had furnished him 
with. All that I have gathered upon this subject 
has not convinced me, and the problem remains to 
be solved. I believe, nevertheless, that this prisoner 
must have been a prince of the royal blood, to whose 
fate in some way was connected the destinies of the 
state; for, in every other hypothesis, one must have 
taxed with folly the measures of safety taken in his 
regard, as well as the enormous expenses that they 
involved. They had built expressly for him a prison 
in the island of St. Marguerite, on the seashore, 
but opposite to the massive erections which arose in 
front of Cannes, and which served to lodge the gov- 
ernor, his officers, and a part of the garrison. A vast 
esplanade separates this large building frorn the 
houses of the pavilion belonging to the iron mask. 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


77 


I have penetrated into this building, thanks to the 
kindness of M. de Latil. The plan was an oblong; 
the first door opened into a corridor, formed from 
the exterior wall and an interior partition ; three 
rooms on the ground-floor occupied the whole length 
"of this corridor; the room at the end, looking to the 
north, was used as the special habitation of the pupil 
of M. de St. Mars, to use the expression of the 
period. This room, eight feet in length, had only 
one window, which opened upon a mass of rocks, 
against which the sea dashed. This window, built 
in the thickness of the wall, was protected by a 
double row of iron bars on the side looking on the 
sea, and by a grating on the interior of the prison. 

“ At the end of the corridor, opposite to the door 
which opened on the yard, they had established an 
altar. Above the door on the wall was the image of 
the Blessed Virgin painted in fresco. A priest al- 
most blind was saying the mass of the Blessed Vir- 
gin ; he saw well enough to distinguish the host and 
the particles. The poor prisoner walked sometimes 
in this corridor, under the guard nevertheless of the 
governor. His tastes declared him to be a man born 
in the most elevated class of society, and they spared 
nothing to satisfy them. He liked very fine linen, 
and -used a great deal of almond paste, perfumed 
water, and cosmetics. They served his meals on 
vessels of plate; a distinction very remarkable. On 
the day of his departure from the island of St. Mar- 
guerite, they burnt carefully the furniture which 


78 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


decorated his prison ; they even melted the silver. 
The chamber was scratched, and rubbed down, and 
scappled into the shafts of the stone. 

“The guardian of this noble captive was M. de St. 
Mars, general officer, of a most intractable character ; 
this guardian was never changed, and outlived, it is 
said, the unfortunate one over whose fate he had 
watched for the space of thirty-two years. 

“Here is an anecdote relating to M. de St. Mars: 

“ At his request they placed in the Antibes, in the 
capacity of lieutenant of the King, one of his old 
companions in arms named M. de Bussieres. This 
officer had a son, thirteen years of age, remarkable 
for his vivacity and prettiness. M. de St. Mars 
loved this child dearly, whose sallies of wit diverted 
him; he sent for him frequently by the ship’s boat, 
which was in attendance, and plied between the 
island of St. Marguerite and the Antibes. It is 
about two leagues from one place to the other by 
doubling the large cape. The society of this child 
was the only distraction that the governor could pro- 
cure for himself. A superior order interdicted the 
entrance to the island to every one. During one of 
these visits the young Bussieres, left for some time 
to himself, commenced to ferret about in every 
corner of the island, which was only half a league 
long ; he reached the door of the room reserved for 
the masked captive. Through an inexplicable for- 
getfulness they had left it unlocked ; the child put 
out his hand and timidly opened the door to see to 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


79 


what place this entrance led. At this moment the 
interesting prisoner was enjoying, without doubt 
with delight, the rare pleasure of walking about 
with his face uncovered in this corridor under the 
formidable guard of St. Mars. He, perceiving on 
the door-sill the little rogue, uttered a cry of anger, 
sprang forward to meet him, and pushing him threw 
him out in the corridor, the door of which this time 
he closed carefully. A few moments after St. Mars 
sent the young Bussieres to Antibes, accompanied 
by an officer, who conveyed to the lieutenant of the 
King a note couched in these terms: ‘I send you 
back your son, my friend. If he had been one year 
older you would have never seen him again.’ ” 

“ This note was found among the papers of the 
commander of the Antibes, when his death neces- 
sitated the destruction of all written matter found 
among his effects. Several persons have known of 
this note 

“ I will finish my narration,” said the bailiff, “by 
one last feature. In spite of the great mystery which 
enveloped the interior life of the prisoner, it was re- 
markable that M. de St. Mars, this general officer 
of a character as proud as inflexible, treated him 
with a deference without equal, and spoke of him in 
terms most respectful. Two persons alone were de- 
tained in his service near the captive, his own 
nephew, M. de Palteau, and an officer named M. 
de Rosarges. 

.“A valet, as skilful as intelligent, was occupied 


80 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


with the most painful details. This man could not 
go out in the middle of the corridor. I ought to 
add that the ramparts were decorated with several 
pieces of artillery; the bombardiers held themselves 
always ready to fire upon any barks or vessels which 
might approach too near the fortress. St. Mars had 
the order to put the prisoner to death if he discovered 
to any stranger his rank, and they had not left him 
ignorant of the latter. Aside from this severity, the 
instructions of the minister Louvois directed the 
governor to comply as much as possible with the 
least desires of his host. 

“ The unfortunate was advancing in age; his long 
captivity and the want of exercise had injured his 
health. At the moment when they expected it the 
least, the valet, who had attended him from the be- 
ginning of his captivity, fell ill and diéd at the expi- 
ration of a few days. The prisoner profited by this 
unhappy circumstance to demand with earnestness 
the more gentle care of a woman. The governor of 
the island of St. Marguerite did not dare, of his own 
will, to satisfy him upon a point so delicate. He 
informed M. de Barbezieux, who had replaced M. 
de Louvois, of it; he referred it to the King. Sev- 
eral ofiicial papers prove that the King interfered 
every time that it was necessary to take a decisive 
measure in regard to the prisoner. 

“ An extraordinary courier brought the authority 
to place near the captive a countrywoman of humble 
condition, and who, in view of a brilliant recom- 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


81 


pense, would be willing to consecrate the rest of her 
life to the service of the stranger. But this woman 
must resign herself to give up the world and never 
see any owe again — to be separated from her own 
forever; in fact to die in the prison, even should the 
man in the iron mask precede her to the tomb. 
The difficulty consisted in finding a woman generous 
enough to sacrifice herself in the hope of enriching 
her family. 

“ Several women whom they thought to seduce by 
the allurement of gain repulsed the proposition. 
However, a peasant from the village of Mongins 
agreed to it; but at the moment of setting foot on 
the vessel which was to carry her to the island of 
St. Marguerite, she withdrew and demanded with 
most lamentable cries permission to return to her 
own rustic roof. At last the widow of a fisherman, 
thirty-five years of age, consented to immolate her- 
self in order to secure a living for five children 
whom her husband had left her — a true image of the 
symbolical pelican of the Christians!’’ 

“Yes, the pelican! That expression is very just,” 
said Madame de Rabasteins, rising quickly from her 
arm-chair. “ A mother is alone capable of a devo- 
tion so sublime.” 

“We have still among us,” added M. La Croix, 
“ one of the sons of this widow.” 

“I wish to see him ; I wish to see him,” cried the 
Baroness, transported with enthusiasm. “M. Bailiff, 


82 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


beg him to come and see ns; what pleasure I shall 
have in talking with him ?’^ 

M. La Croix observed that this man could not be 
free until towards evening, as he was obliged to wait 
until he fulfilled his duties in the tax bureau, where 
he was employed. 

Madame de Rabasteins passed the rest of the day 
in singular impatience. Night having arrived, the 
bailiff was summoned to keep his promise before 
supper. M. La Croix went out, and at the end of a 
half-hour he returned, accompanied by the employé, 
who was called Olive; he was an old man, rather 
tall, who appeared to be about sixty- five years of age; 
his physiognomy, otherwise quite animated, bore the 
impress of a deep melancholy, which seemed pro- 
duced by the distant remembrance of some great 
misfortune. 

Madame de Rabasteins received the employé w-ith 
a most benevolent air, and begged him in a most 
engaging manner to relate to us the beautiful trait 
of devotion for which his mother was so illustrious. 
Olive appeared to hesitate a moment, casting around 
him some uneasy glances, as if he feared that some 
indiscreet persons might hear him. Olive trembled 
on commencing his recital : 

“ My father, an old sailor in the royal marine ser- 
vice, profited by peace to return to Cannes, his native 
country, and established himself there as a fisherman. 
He married there and died at the end of fourteen 
years in consequence of a sickness, which, by pro- 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


83 


longing his life beyond all bound, finished by ex- 
hausting the feeble resources of his family. The 
barge and all the nets had to be sold. 

“ My mother remained burdened with the care of 
five children, of whom the eldest, who was a girl, 
was just entering her thirteenth 3’ear; the youngest 
scarcely walked. The obligation of procuring a 
living for this number of children prevented my 
mother from yielding to the weight of grief ; an un- 
equalled energy developed itself suddenly at the 
home of this naturally very timid woman. Notwith- 
standing the extreme weariness which overcame her, 
she found means of being properly clothed, and of 
keeping her children upon a comfortable footing. 
Some charitable persons granted her some slight 
assistance ; however, the wants increased according 
as we grew, and, to provide for them, my mother 
wore herself out in vain eftbrts. The whole popula- 
tion of Cannes felt a lively interest in her fate; all 
eyes were turned towards the widow, when, on Sun- 
day, she appeared at church, escorted by her five 
children ; each one of us wearing on our miserable 
clothing some apparent sign of mourning for our 
father, if it was-only a strip of black crape. 

“ One day, towards two o’clock, M.^ , the 

bailiff, came into the room which we occupied in 
common. The major of the isle of St. Marguerite 
accompanied him. This unexpected visit produced 
among us a very natural surprise. The astonishment 
redoubled when the bailiff expressed to my mother 


84 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


the desire of speaking to her without her children, 
by whom she was surrounded, hearing him. My 
mother, all trembling, pushed us gently into one 
of the corners of the room ; the two youngest were 
stretched out asleep upon the same low bed; my 
sister, my brother, and myself remained standing in 
our corner without losing a single movement of the 
two gentlemen so well dressed. 

“We remarked that my mother became extremely 
pale, then abundant tears flowed from her eyes. 

“ ‘ Madam,’ continued Olive, ‘ M. La Croix, at 
whose house we are, has told you that M. de St. 
Mars was looking for a woman to take care of a 
prisoner of distinction.’ They promised her a hand- 
some recompense; but at what a price! Good God! 
an anticipated death ! The bailiff, first magistrate 
of the country, having been able to appreciate the 
character of the flsherman’s widow, had judged her 
capable of immolating herself for the love of her 
children. 

“ In short, the third day after this visit, — I shall 
never forget this day ; it was the 14th of September, 
1692, — my mother, having gone out early, returned 
after a long absence, and distributed to all of us some 
cake, a treat entirely new to us. She embraced us 
a thousand times with a sort of frenzy. She begged 
my sister and myself, the only ones able to under- 
stand her, to take care of our brothers ; and, above 
all, not to forget to say our morning and evening 
prayers; then, having embraced us again and again, 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


85 


iTiy mother rose quickly, and fled from our room. 
We never saw her again.” 

Some painfully stifled sobs prevented Olive from 
continuing his narration. Our tears flowed simul- 
taneously; no expression can render the pathetic 
simplicity of the words spoken by this man. At the 
end of a few moments he recommenced his recital : 

“ One hour after the departure of our mother, two 
women from the town, whom we knew to be her 
friends, entered the room, and took us home with 
them to play with their children. The bailiff named 
as our tutor a distant relative. They counted out to 
him two hundred pistoles for each one of us, charging 
him to take care of us, to provide for our wants, and 
to administer this little fortune, that we owed to the 
noble sacrifice of our mother. 

“ The head of this family of orphans was a woman, 
my eldest sister. Miette, thirteen years of age. A cer- 
tain energy of character commenced to develop itself 
in this young girl, and this energy was united very 
strongly to an angelic candor. At the end of a few 
months some indiscreet confldence unveiled to her 
eyes the mystery which covered the fate of her 
mother; in vain some compassionate friends tried to 
make her hope for her return. Miette did not mis- 
understand our misfortune; she understood it en- 
tirely. It caused her often fits of melancholy, which 
ended in deep despair. When one of these crises 
commenced, she dragged us all four to the seashore, 
made us kneel down, and extending our arms towards 


86 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


the fortress, of which we could see the ramparts, we 
would call our mother. Sometimes Miette, whose 
imagination was easily excited, would say to us : 

“ ‘ Look, my brothers, below there, upon the bas- 
tion; my mother is there, I see her, she makes a 
sign to us.^ 

“ Then we would commence to cry altogether, we 
would clap our hands; but the sad reality was not 
slow in appearing to us, the illusion ceased, and we 
would fall on the shore exhausted with fatigue; some 
c-haritable people would run and lead us back to the 
house. 

“I knew, without doubt, that my mother had 
made several attempts to escape from the island; the 
watchfulness of the governor rendered them useless. 
The deep grief which the privation of her children 
caused her, led her to the tomb sooner than she her- 
self believed when taking this sad step. Six years 

after this cruel separation M. , the bailiff, came 

to find us, and make known to us, to my sister and 
myself, our irreparable loss. -Our dear mother had 
ceased to live. 

“ Miette had entered into her nineteenth year ; on 
receiving the communication of the bailifi*, she 
uttered a cry of fright; by a sudden movement we 
grouped ourselves all around her, as if to feel her 
grief. 

“M. , the bailiff, waited until the violence of 

an aflliction so just was a little calmed, then he 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


87 


placed upon the table a leather purse filled with 
louisd’ors. 

“ ‘ Here/ said he, ‘ is a sum which belongs to you ; 
these are the entire wages of your mother that she 
had amassed. I am charged to give them to you.’ 

“ ‘ We do not wish this money,’ cried Miette, with 
fire; ‘it is the price of the blood of our mother; 
take it avray ; we do not wish it.’ 

It seems to me,” continued Olive, “that I still 
hear the noise that these pieces of gold made in fall- 
ing; their sound had something in it sorrowful and 
plaintive. 

“ My sister insisted before the bailiff that we should 
ask to have the clothes which our mother wore re- 
turned to us; they had been burnt in lime. Some 
years after the departure of the man in the iron 
mask, I obtained, through the intercession of one of 
the oflicers of the fortress, permission to go through 
the island. I sought vainly for the tomb of my 
mother, in order to pray there for her; no sign en- 
abled me to discover it.” 

Olive had strongly moved us by his recital. Ma- 
dame de Eabasteins, very much affected, asked him : 
“What has become of Miette, this worthy sister?” 

“ She lives yet, thank God, although very old. A 
hotel-keeper from Luc sought her in marriage a 
few years after the death of our mother. Miette 
agreed to the proposition, imposing, nevertheless, 
upon her future husband one condition, namely: 
that the sign of the hotel should be changed, and 


88 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


that they should substitute for the Golden Lion a 
Pelican, who was opening her breast with her beak, 
to nourish with her blood her five little ones.” 

“ Good woman !” cried Madame de Kabasteins. 
‘‘ I hope, M. Olive,” continued she, “ that in mem- 
ory of the virtue of your heroic mother, you have 
never failed to say your morning prayers.” 



\ 



CHAPTER V. 

HISTORY OF THE TRAIN-BEARER OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF 
AIX — THE CASTLE OF SUZE — PETER DUFOUR, SER- 
GEANT OF THE REGIMENT OF BEAUZE, AND HIS 
BROTHER JAMES — MDLLE. DE PRACONTAL DIES ON THE 
DAY OF HER MARRIAGE WITH M. DE QUINSONNAS. 

E left Cannes on the 12th of September, 
1744, and again we passed through the 
horrible forest of Esterel; this time 
Manon did not appear to us. After hav- 
ing passed through the smiling town of Brignolles 
without accident, we reached Aix towards evening. 
Monseigneur deBrancas occupied the Archiépiscopal 
See; the family of the Rabasteins had had with his 
family some business quarrels, which were put an end 
to by several decrees of Parliament. The decision 
of this supreme court was against my relations; 
nevertheless, my mother deemed it convenient to 
pay a visit to our happy adversary ; she solicited 
permission to do so by a very respectful note, that I 
wrote in her name. The Archbishop sent his secre- 
tary immediately, and several sedan chairs to lead us 
to the Episcopal palace. The prelate showed in his 
reception a perfect grace; he was an old man of 

8 





90 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


beautiful and imposing bearing ; they called him the 
great story-teller. 

When the first and customary compliments were 
exhausted, Madame de Rabasteins asked Monseign- 
eur de Brancas, with a very singular eagerness, if 
he had a train-bearer. 

“My faith! no,” replied the Archbishop, “two 
have died on my hands in less than three years; I 
wish no more of them ; I fear for them an epizootic. 
May I dare to ask you, madam, to what end you ad- 
dress to me such a question ?” 

“It is that I regard a train-bearer as a very 
amusing character,” replied my mother. 

“ Hot always,” replied Monseigneur de Brancas, 
“ and if you will permit me, I am going to prove it to 
you by the history of the latter, who they called the 
Knight of St. Yves. He was descended, I think, from 
the race of Atrides, for fortune did not cease to follow 
him with severity ; his misfortunes were not, how- 
ever, as tragical as those of the family of Agamem- 
non : murder and adultery were not mingled in any 
manner with them; but this man saw himself perpet- 
ually exposed to bad luck, which seemed to adhere to 
him. The best combination of enterprises failed 
through a chain of unforeseen circumstances. Two 
or three marriages failed the veiy evening of the 
ceremony. Here is a description of his misfortunes : 

“ The Knight, having lost his patrimony, subsisted 
by means of a pension, which was paid to him by 
several united relations. During one of the latter 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


91 


summers of his life, he repaired to the waters of 
Bareges, in order to find some diversion for his 
weariness. The brilliant society which was then as- 
sembled at the Pyrenees, received him with marked 
kindness. Among the number of bathers was re- 
marked a lady of about fifty years of age, who had 
never been pretty. She lived without a servant, a 
countrywoman waiting on her by the week. The 
fashionables of Bareges took very little notice of 
her, although her manners were distinguished. The 
Xnight was the only one who did not abandon her ; 
when near her he showed her the most marked 
attentions. This lady was suffering from the first 
attacks of dropsy. The end of the season was ap- 
proaching, the signal for departure was soon given. 
The invalid said to her agreeable guest: 

“‘I am deeply touched, sir, with the infinite kind- 
ness that you have shown me; there remains for me 
only one last favor to ask you ; this is perhaps very 
indiscreet, but heaven will recompense you for such 
a generous devotion.’ 

‘‘ ‘ Madam, what can I do for you ?’ 

“ ‘ I am alone, suffering very much; would you be 
magnanimous enough to sacrifice yourself by con- 
ducting me back to my modest dwelling at Montau- 
ban? You will have at first to travel thirty leagues 
in my company, and then three times as many to 
reach the city of Aix?’ 

“The Knight was at first perfectly astounded at 
this proposition; but, finally, his good heart inspired 


92 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


him to give a favorable answer. Our two travellers 
set out. M. de Saint Yves lavished the most touch- 
ing attentions upon the invalid, which were perfectly 
disinterested. What was his astonishment when 
they arrived at the. gates of Montauban to find, on 
descending from the public coach, a handsome car- 
riage, and servants, who conducted the lady and her' 
Knight to a magnificent house, where all the sur- 
roundings breathed of wealth ! 

“ ‘Sir,’ said the invalid, ‘ I have deceived you ; I 
am less uncomfortable and ill than I may have ap- 
peared at the waters of Bareges. Your loyal con- 
duct has excited my gratitude. Will you at first 
accept at my house a living exempt from all care ? 
A little later we will make other arrangements.’ 

“At the end of two months the condition of the 
dropsical patient grew worse in a most alarming 
manner. She said to M. de Saint Yves: 

“‘My natural heirs are collaterals very far re- 
moved, who in my opinion have very serious faults. 
My fortune is twenty thousand pounds a year. I 
wish to leave it all to you, less a few legacies to my 
servants and to the poor of my parish. It is neces- 
sary then for me to make a will in my own hand, but 
I am ignorant of the manner in which it should be 
drawn up; gather for me upon this subject all the 
necessary information. Here are the names of my 
people.’ 

“M. de Saint Yves went to a lawyer, who gave 
him the exact form, from which the Knight con- 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


93 


structed a model of the will. He gave it to the 
lady, recommending her to copy this paper with 
great exactness, without adding or leaving out any- 
thing, and to immediately burn the model ; for the 
validity of the will would be at once contested, if 
they could bring forward the proof that this act had 
been dictated by a perfect stranger. This advice 
was followed very strictly. The will, having been 
sealed, was placed in the hands of a notary in trust. 

“ The dropsical patient died the following month. 
M. de Saint Yves, fifty years of age or more, was 
about to find at last a just recompense for all the 
hardships that fate had never ceased overwhelming 
him with up to this time. He began to hold up his 
head, and found himself sufliciently presentable to 
contract a union with some young woman ; his 
choice was even already made. The reading of the 
will had taken place. The dropsical patient had 
shown herself so docile in conforming to the instruc- 
tions of the Knight, that she omitted the name of the 
residuary legatee in copying the model ; for M. de 
Saint Yves, guided by a very laudable sentiment of 
delicacy, had left his name in blank. The natural 
heirs, whom the testatrix wished to keep out of their 
just titles, took possession of their rights, thanks to 
this fatal forgetfulness. The Knight was forced to 
decamp very quickly from the house. They scarcely 
allowed him the privilege of taking away his clothes. 
He returned to Aix plunged in despair. His pitia- 
ble condition touched my heart. I admitted him into 


94 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


my house in the capacity of train-bearer; but the 
blow had been too severe. The grief brought on a 
liver complaint, which carried him ofl* at the end of 
five months.” 

On leaving Aix, we directed our steps towards 
Tarascon, in order to avoid Avignon, and we again 
passed the Rhone at the bridge of the Holy Ghost, 
where we had crossed it six weeks before. We made 
haste to reach the domain of St. Peter, situated a few 
leagues from St. Paul, of the three castles at the en- 
trance of the Dauphiné, on coming from the princi- 
pality of Orange. This excursion, at the end of the 
province, had singularly fatigued Madame de Rabas- 
teins; she desired perfect rest. Our house was just 
about being made ready by some intelligent servants, 
of whom the principal one was called Hubert. 

A slow’ fever took hold of my mother from the 
time that she established herself in her house at St. 
Peter. In the midst of her sufferings this angelic 
woman thought still of procuring for me the means 
of recreation. The name of the terrible Baron of 
Adrets, the ancient chief of the Protestants of the 
Dauphiné, was always remembered by the inhabi- 
tants of this part of the country. The most of the 
neighboring castles had been restored since peace 
had procured calm for these provinces that had been 
desolated for so long a time by civil war. We will 
name, for its elegance, that of Suze, which belonged 
to one of the oldest families of the province. They 
gave me permission to visit it, conducted by the 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


95 


faithful Hubert; this project caused me true joy. 
The next day in the morning, my mother, according 
to her custom, made me say mj^ prayers near her 
bed; then we set out, Hubert and I, both on our 
horses. 

After having travelled three hours through a very 
wild, rude country, we had to make a long ascent in 
order to arrive at the castle of Suze, which was built 
upon a table-land, at the foot of which wound the 
river Lez ; this table-land was covered with a wood 
of thorny trees. Nothing could have been wilder 
than this place, and nothing was as beautiful and, at 
the same time, so graceful as the castle. Its interior 
court was ornamented with a richly sculptured gal- 
lery, which led to the most magnificent staircase that 
I have ever seen. M. de ISuze received me with 
kindness, and showed me through his sumptuous 
dwelling; when returning, he insisted upon my ex- 
amining the esplanade in front of the bridge. 

This place,” said M. de Suze, “ witnessed, in the 
sixteenth century, a desperate combat, fought by 
James, my great-great-grandfather, and the famous 
Baron of Adrets.' This chief of the Protestants defied 
the Lord of Suze, who commanded the Catholics of 
the province, in proposing to him to close the quar- 
rel before the doorway of his superb castle, in order 
that he should have a shorter road to travel to be 
interred in the vault of his ancestors. My ancestor 
accepted without hesitation this insolent provocation. 
The duel took place on the same spot upon which 


96 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


we now stand, in the presence of a hundred men of 
the two parties. At the end of several violent en- 
counters, the Lord of Suze disarmed his adversary, 
and threw him to the ground. Then resting the 
point of his sword on the throat of the conquered 
one, he said : 

“ ‘ What would you do, Baron of Adrets, if you 
were in my place?’ 

“ ‘ I would cut your throat,’ replied the ferocious 
partisan. 

“‘Ah, well! I will give you your life,’ replied 
my ancestor; ‘rise.’ 

“ We preserve carefully in our family,” added M. 
de Suze, “ the remembrance of such a memorable 
action.” 

Day commenced declining when we returned to 
the domain of St. Peter. I found that my mother 
had risen ; near her was seated a ver}^ venerable old 
lady, whose face bore the impress of some very se- 
vere grief. It was easy for me to see that I had in- 
terrupted a conversation whose subject must have 
been very sad. 

“ There is your son,” said the stranger, “ whom 
God still preserves for you I Like me you deplore 
the loss of a cherished husband; like me you have 
only one child; there is in our two positions a cer- 
tain similarity. I hope that cruel fortune will not 
render this similarity still more complete.” 

“ Do not finish,” cried Madame de Rabasteins, in 
a heartrending tone; “this similarity could never 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 97 

exist. While you regret having been born with a 
very robust constitution, your eyes will assure you, 
on examining my person, that nature has formed us 
on this point very unlike; the loss of my husband 
has already cost me my sight — it was destroyed in a 
torrent of tears. In me life is like a feeble flame 
that the least breath could extinguish ; could I sup- 
port the terrible trial which you have been able to 
resist?’’ 

The stranger rose to take leave of my mother; her 
tall figure seemed bent in some manner under the 
weight of years and trouble. The aspect of this lady, 
dressed in black, caused me to feel a sort of fear, 
although her lace expressed no severity. I followed 
her w’ith my eyes, without thinking of leading her 
out. It seemed to me that this stranger left after her 
a train of misfortunes. 

Madame de Kabasteins remained immovable in 
her arm-chair; her eyes dull and sad, and her fixed 
look ofl:ered at this moment an indefinable expres- 
sion. I approached to lavish upon her my caresses; 
she clasped me in her arms, saying: 

“ My dear Maurice, you must never go near the 
edge of a precipice.” 

I asked for an explanation of these words. 

“ This aged person who has just left here,” replied 
my mother, “ is called Madame de Pracoutal ; she is 
our nearest neighbor, for the castle next to the house 
in which we live belongs to her. Her only daughter 
died the same day of her marriage, thirty years ago. 

9 


98 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


This young unfortunate one fell into a frightful 
abj^ss which extended along the terrace of the Castle 
of Monségur. Since this catastrophe Madame de 
Pracontal has left the old residence of her fathers, 
and confined herself to a modest country house close 
by the village church; she lives there very retired. 
The close connection which' unites our two families 
inspired her with the desire to pay me a visit. The 
interview has lasted several hours, and the conversa- 
tion has only flowed upon our misfortunes in com- 
mon, which has nearly broken my heart. But let 
us put away these mournful thoughts,” continued 
my mother, “and speak only of things more appro- 
priate to the feelings of your age. *Has the excur- 
sion to the Castle of Suze filled your expectation, 
my dear child? During your absence, Clotilde has 
written, under my dictation, to several families who 
live in the neighborhood ; I have informed them of 
our arrival in this part of the country, begging them 
to permit their sons to come and see you, since my 
infirmities forbid me the pleasure of taking you to 
their houses.” 

I thanked my mother for her amiable attention, 
while I congratulated myself much more about to 
find myself with young people of my own age, as I 
had never before known this pleasure; my infancy 
having been passed in a sort of isolation, on account 
of the extreme solicitude that Madame de Babas- 
teins showed and felt in regard to her only son. 

At the expiration of a week we received from all 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


99 


the most favorable answers. All of our neighbors 
seemed eager to comply with the wishes of a woman 
whose position appeared to them so interesting. 
They announced to us for the same day the arrival 
of young Paul de Causans, from the neighborhood 
of Orange, of the two Geoffres de Montélimart, 
of Kalph de Rochegerde, of Joseph de Verna, of 
Pierrelatte, of Géraud de Crussol, from Uzés, — all six 
jolly companions. 

The visit of Madame de Pracontal had excited 
my mother to a supreme degree; it was followed by 
those cruel sleepless nights. My uneasiness became 
greater and greater; I rose frequently to watch near 
her bed. Thus was passed the greater part of the 
night which preceded this day, so ardently desired, 
since it was to procure for me the happiness of 
making the acquaintance of new friends. Towards 
four o’clock, the condition of my dear invalid having 
become more calm,! went by her orders to give my- 
self up to sleep. 

The morning was advanced when the neighing of 
several horses awakened me very awkwardly-. I 
supposed that this noise announced the arrival of 
my young companions. I dressed myself in great 
haste, and before descending, I repaired, neverthe- 
less, to the apartment of my mother, with the in- 
tention of saying my morning prayers at her bed- 
side, following a custom from which I had never 
deviated; but Clotilde forbid me’to enter her room, 
saying that her mistress was enjoying at that mo- 


100 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


merit the most delicious sleep, and that it would be 
inhuman to disturb her. I retired then noiselessly, 
and descended to the court by a back stairway. I 
found myself in the presence of six youths who were 
overflowing with animal spirits; I embraced them 
all as old acquaintances, for I loved them without 
having seen them. However, I granted, from the 
first glance, an exclusive preference to Paul de Cau- 
sans, whose pleasant face and jovial manner had 
charmed me so much. 

Following the instructions of Madame.de Rabas- 
teins, Hubert served us with a splendid breakfast. 
At the end of the repast, which was pretty noisy, 
my companions and myself sprang out into the 
country like wild horses. After having run up hill 
and down dale, we resolved to go and examine the 
Castle of Monsegur, the entrance to which was 
strictly forbidden to every one, but, by virtue of a 
superior order, the porter allowed us to go all 
through the interior, and this man received us with 
very marked politeness. His history is worthy of 
being related. 

He was called Peter Dufour, and was an old 
sergeant of dragoons of the Corporal Chevert; he 
had received a gunshot in the leg three years before, 
at the escalade of Prague, that glorious feat of arms 
that one is forced to celebrate in verse and prose. 
Even so grave a wound did not diminish the natural 
vigor of Peter Dufour, whose loyalty equalled his 
courage. Madame de Pracontal conceived the good 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


101 


idea of choosing him as a porter at the Castle of 
Monségnr; she intrusted to him at the same time 
the entire care of all her domains. The terrible 
neighborhood of Avignon being ordinarily the ref- 
uge of criminals, rendered this part of the Dauphiné 
very disagreeable to live in. The country swarmed 
with worthless characters, who amused themselves 
with devastating the country, and burning those 
houses that were not well guarded. Madame de 
Pracontal, whose position as a widow was rendered 
terrible, saw all her farms attacked by hosts of plun- 
derers; but Peter Dufour, whose authority extended 
over the other guards, succeeded in repressing the 
audacity of these bandits, as much by his active 
vigilance as by a steady firmness. They nicknamed 
him the J^ew Adrets, on which the dragoon prided 
himself very much. 

He learned, they did not know how, that three 
rascals from the same parish, very resolute men, 
were to scale the walls of the castle during the night 
and introduce themselves into the little summer- 
house in which he and his farnily had lived for 
nearly one year. These villains proposed to strangle 
him in order to deliver themselves from a very in- 
convenient watch. They could not make their way 
into the summer-house except by breaking tlie shut- 
ters of a window which lighted an interior corridor. 
Dufour posted himself near the window, furnished 
with a dark lantern and a formidable axe. The care 


102 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


of sharpening the large edge of his weapon filled up 
a part of the evening. 

The robbers presented themselves towards mid- 
night, the hour of crime, and commenced immedi- 
ately to set to work. They succeeded, by means of 
a file, to make a square hole in the shutter; the 
boldest passed his arm into this opening, in order to 
slip back the bolt which fastened the window. Du- 
four dealt such a terrible blow upon this arm, that 
the hand was severed from the wrist, and fell heavily 
within the corridor. The man, wounded in such an 
unexpected manner, uttered a frightful cry, and 
fainted at the feet of his companions, who hastened 
to carry him oft*. The day after this expedition, the 
conqueror nailed to the castle gate, between two 
bats, the hand that remained in his power; then he 
ordered the sexton of the parish to publish, through 
the streets of the town, the following proclamation: 
“ He who has lost a hand, may go to reclaim it at the 
Castle of Monségur. Peter Dufour will restore it to 
him without exacting any reward.” 

The claim did not take place, for the rascal whose 
member had been amputated died soon of tetanus. 
This tragical adventure shed terror among the worth- 
less characters of the country, and none of them 
dared again to form the least undertaking against 
the terrible porter. 

Peter Dufour had a brother named James, who 
merits equally some slight mention. You will per- 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


103 


mit me, without doubt, to mingle something merry 
with the sad recital of my misfortunes. 

This James Dufour, as well as a certain number 
of his fellow-countrymen, set out, two years ago, with 
the light troops of Frederick, King of Prussia, when 
this prince had formed an alliance with our sover- 
eign. Ko one is ignorant that the German monarch 
showed a singular predilection for the French; he 
neglected no means to draw them into his service. 
The Prussian army made an attack on Bohemia to- 
wards the middle of the year 1742. The King took 
very energetic measures to make them respect the 
churches, so as riot to make the Catholic population 
of this country discontented. He punished with an 
inexorable severity all profanation of holy places; 
the least excess of this kind was never pardoned by 
him. This prince was about leaving the town of 
Culm to direct his steps towards Prague, the second 
capital of the Austrian Empire, when he was told 
that one of his soldiers, having gone into a church, 
had stolen a rich rosary that the Blessed Virgin, the 
patroness of the place, held suspended from her hand. 
This theft wa^not slow in coming to the knowledge 
of the inhabitants, who showed themselves very in- 
dignant ; the population threatened to rise in a mass. 
On his side, Frederick, not less irritated, ordered 
that the stolen object should be replaced immediately 
in the chapel, and that the soldier should pay for the 
crime, of which he had rendered himself guilty. 


104 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


with his life. The execution was to take place in 
front of the army in order to serve as an example. 

The officer charged with the delivery of this order 
to the commander of the vanguard, said to the 
Prince, without any particular intention, that the 
hussar whom they were going to bring to justice 
was a Frenchman. “ In that case,” replied Freder- 
ick, “I wish to see him before the execution.” At 
the end of a few moments the guilty one found him- 
self before the King of Prussia, who speaks our lan- 
guage as purely as a professor. 

“ Miserable creature,” said the King, why did 
you steal this rosary ?” 

James Dufour, not in the slightest degree intimi- 
dated by the terrible prospect which awaited him, 
replied : 

“Your majesty, I did not steal it, and, if your 
majesty will deign to listen to me for a few moments,’ 
you will easily be convinced of my innocence.” 

“ Let us see ; speak.” 

“I am a Catholic, and I entered the church with 
the intention of praying to God for the preservation 
of the precious days of your majesty, and for the 
glory of your army. I was kneeling at the foot of 
the statue of the Blessed Virgin and praying very 
devoutly, when the Mother of God said to me : ‘ You 
are an honest soldier to pray with so much fervor 
for the King, your master, and, in order to reward 
such zeal, I give you this rosary.’ Could I refuse 
what the Blessed Virgin deigned to present to- me? 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


105 


I then took the rosary from the hands of the good 
Mother; that is all my crime.’’ 

Frederick could not help admiring the freedom 
and boldness of mind of a man who did not fear to 
joke even in the face of death. He said to him : 

“ Listen to me attentively. You have restored the 
stolen object. I pardon you this time, but if ever 
again the Blessed Virgin or any other saint wishes 
to give you something and you accept it, I will have 
you executed without fail.” 

James Dufour did not speak, and profiting by an 
armistice which suspended hostilities, he left the fol- 
lowing month the service of the gracious German 
monarch, and returned to Dauphiné, his native coun- 
try. He filled at this time some subordinate position 
in the Tax Bureau at Montelimart. Would you be- 
lieve that this man, instead of causing to be forgotten, 
by the most profound silence, the sacrilege of which 
he had been guilty, amused himself by relating it 
Avith the most minute details. He never lost an op- 
portunity of speaking of his adventure, and regarded 
himself as an important personage for having been 
the cause of it. That was his expression with the 
famous Frederick, upon whom, at this time, the eyes 
of all Europe were fixed. Not a day passed without 
James Dufour saying to some one: “ The King of 
Prussia has spoken to me.” 

Peter Dufour received us, as I have said, with 
extreme politeness, and allowed us to run through 
the interior of the castle. These large rooms, aban- 


106 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


doned for so long a time, breathed deep sadness and 
gloom throughout. The magnificent tapestries, with 
their mythological subjects, fixed our attention prin- 
cipally. We had examined the most remarkable 
pieces, when the old clock struck one; our sixteen 
year old stomachs already cried aloud with hunger. 

“ Gentlemen,” said the porter to us, “ I would 
persuade you to go to Madame de Rabasteins to 
dine; then, if you will return, I will show you par- 
ticularly the armory, relating to you at the same 
time all the history of the famous Baron des Adrets, 
to whom this castle belonged in the sixteenth cen- 
tury.” 

My companions thought this invitation very agree- 
able. Dufour led us back as far as the threshold. I 
then ventured to ask him where the dangerous preci- 
pice was situated, of which my mother had spoken 
so much. 

“ I am going to point it out to you,” said our guide 
to me, with a most mysterious air. 

After having turned the party eastward of the 
building we perceived a very smooth lawn, whose 
steep descent led suddenly to a defile which sepa- 
rated two small hills placed in front of one another, 

Fribourg, in Switzerland, presents to the eye of 
the traveller a similar situation, with this difierence, 
that the space between the two mountains of this 
town is much more extended than the opening that 
separates the hills of Monségur. The village is built 
in the middle of one of these table-rocks, and upon 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


107 


the other rises the ancient manor of the Brions, of 
whom Madame de Pracontal was the last heir. This 
manor, an indescribable assemblage of constructions 
which were erected in différent ages, was built upon 
a round eminence, after the principle followed by all 
the feudal lords, who studied to render the access to 
their dwellings very difficult by making them many 
sided. The terrace bordering the eastern side leaned 
over a brake of ferns, whose treacherous descent led 
inevitably to the precipice ; it was necessary to be 
extremely sure-footed to avoid falling into the gulf. 
This had caused them to deplore several accidents 
of this kind. We had the proof of it in the three 
crosses erected on this spot as a funeral remembrance. 
Now, however, no fears could exist in this regard, 
since Madame de Pracontal had a little wall built, 
high enough to render any more accidents impossi- 
ble. On approaching this spot we saw a priest with 
white locks kneeling near a beautiful iron cross, that 
touched the wall of protection. He recited in a low 
voice some prayers. Our arrival did not disturb him. 
Dufour perceived him immediately, and fell on his 
knees behind the clergyman ; we all imitated his ex- 
ample. At the end of a quarter of an hour, the 
priest, having finished his orisons, rose and saluted 
us in the most friendly manner. His venerable face, 
breathed the spirit of meekness. 

“ Sir,’’ said the porter to him, “will you be good 
enough to relate to these gentlemen the frightful 
misfortune that happened to our good mistress?” 


108 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


“Willingly,’^ replied the priest in a kind tone. 
We grouped ourselves around him to hear better. 

“ I had received orders for several years, and I 
filled the position of almoner at the House of the 
Ladies of the Benedictines of Valence, when, at 
the express request of Madame de Pracontal,to whom 
niy father was the physician, I was called to the 
living of Monsegur, now having become vacant by 
the death of the ofiiciating clergyman. At my en- 
treaty my protectress gave her daughter to M. de 
Quinsonnas, the eldest of one of the most important 
families in the Dauphiné. She insisted that I should 
bless the union, although other clergymen of very high 
rank, the most part of them relations, had claimed 
this honor. Madame de Pracontal desired that the 
marriage of her daughter should be the first that I 
blessed, for I had only ofilciated in the parish for a 
few days. The event that I have the honor of re- 
lating to you happened about thirty years ago. Our 
good lady must be fully seventy years of age. May 
God prolong her days for the happiness of the poor ! 

“ All distinguished persons in the province were 
invited to the wedding; the castle could scarcely 
hold the crowd of guests. A legion of 3^oung ladies 
formed the procession of the bride, whose magnifi- 
cent toilet enhanced still more her rare beauty. 
Among her wedding gifts was remarked particular! 3^ 
a necklace of pearls, to which was suspended a cross 
of diamonds, the price of which no one could 
imagine. This rich ornament, brought from the 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


109 


East by the ancestors of Madame de Pracontal, had 
been transmitted from wife to wife for five centuries. 
I dwell upon these points because I recollect them 
as though it had happened yesterday. I see still the 
silk dress of very pale blue that Mdlle. Lucy wore. 

“On coming out of the church, all the guests re- 
turned to the castle accompanied by the crowd of 
peasants, among whom the servants made abun- 
dant distributions of wines and eatables. As the 
hour for the banquet was still far oft’, the bride de- 
sired, while waiting, to eat some fruit. She thought, 
during this light repast, to break an apricot stone 
w’ith the handle of her knife. The blow, ill-directed, 
struck the wedding ring, which had been placed only 
a few moments before on the finger of the left hand. 
This ring, broken in several pieces, fell to the ground. 
Mournful omen ! each one interpreted it in a dif- 
ferent manner. 

“The bride wishing to make some diversion to the 
sad thoughts to which this incident gave birth, drew 
her companions out of the drawing-room, under 
pretext of showing them the flowers in her garden; 
flowers that she had cultivated with her own hands 
with infinite care. They were all spread about 
through the parterres and the green walks. One 
hour after, the bell rang to announce that the ban- 
quet was about being served ; the wedding guests, 
dispersed about through the groves, returned in 
groups, the young ladies as well. One of them was 
missing; it was the heroine of the feast. They ran 


110 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


to her room, but could not find her. Madame de 
Pracontal, frightened, sprang into the garden, run- 
ning breathless through the winding walks. The 
echoes alone replied to her vo^ce. Men, women, 
servants, dispersed themselves about in all direc- 
tions ; their searches were fruitless; the poor mother 
ran about like one distracted ; she uttered a heart- 
rending cry; a frightful reflection just struck her 
mind; she thought of this lawn, whose steep de- 
scent had caused such deplorable accidents; her 
daughter might have slid into the abyss. Madame 
de Pracontal directed her steps quickly towards this 
wretched spot; she fell fainting on seeing two 
wooden crosses that they had erected in remem- 
brance of the accidents, of which this place had 
been the mournful theatre. Each one imagined the 
fatal truth ; an eager crowd descended painfully on 
all sides to the bottom of the precipice, in hopes of 
drawing from thence the bride, still living. M. de 
Quinsonnas, whose despair cannot be described, 
walked first. They all arrived there; and oh, what 
surprise! They found in this spot, neither Mdlle. 
Lucy, nor the least vestige of her clothes; the little 
stream that ran at the bottom of the confined pass 
was dry, a very natural circumstance in the middle 
of summer; the waters then had not carried away 
this young and agile person. M. de Quinsonnas, 
accompanied by servants carrying torches, passed 
the entire night in running through the whole length 
of the ravine, not forgetting to search the many cavi- 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. ' 


111 


ties; he did not meet with the slightest indication of 
the missing one. Several relations at the same time 
commenced to explore, with expert workmen, the 
wells and the cistern of the castle; their efforts led 
to no discovery. The next day some peasants re- 
lated that a band of gypsies had been seen prowling 
through the canton for several days; the public 
voice accused these miserable creatures of stealing^ 
children when they failed in getting much booty. 
They might have found their way into the garden, 
surprised the bride there, and carried her off quickly 
in order to rob her of the rich wedding presents, 
and especially the beautiful diamond cross. This 
thought, cruel as it may appear, caused hope to dawn 
once more in the hearts of the two weeping families. 
M. de Quinsonnas, escorted by a score of horsemen, 
followed the track of the gypsies, who had directed 
their steps toward Savoy. They reached them at the 
end of a few days, in some by-ways, for these people 
shun the public roads. Mdlle. de Pracontal was not 
with them. The servants who had come from Mon- 
ségur, rummaged the wallets of these miscreants, 
hoping to find there some pieces of the clothing of 
their young mistress. These wallets contained only 
some filthy rags. This expedition resulted, in short, 
in a very singular manner. These gypsies had not 
carried off* Mdlle. de Pracontal as they supposed, but 
they had stolen, while passing through Maçonnais, 
two little girls of three years of age, and carried 
them ofl* concealed at the bottom of their baskets. 


112 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


These miserable wretches imagined that the horse- 
men who had came after them were the relations of 
these children. They, therefore, drew them from 
their hiding-place, and presented them to M. de 
Quinsonnas, in order to obtain pardon by a volun- 
tary restitution. The two little girls were restored 
to their mothers at the expiration of a short time. 

“They could not, then, accuse the gypsies of the 
abduction of the bride. In spite of the evidence, the 
peasants persisted in sustaining the opinion that an- 
other baud of these vagabonds had executed the 
bold trick. Madame de Pracontal adopted this 
opinion, because it left her a gleam of hope. For 
several years, emissaries, sent by her, travelled all 
through Languedoc, Spain, Savoy, and Italy. Their 
searches were fruitless, and it cost her considerable 
sums of money. The uselessness of these long 
efforts brought back Madame de Pracontal to the 
first idea, that her daughter had slipped on the lawn 
leading from the castle, and that, in falling to the 
bottom of this defile, the unfortunate one had be- 
come the prey of some wild beasts, who had dragged 
her away to some impenetrable den. That which 
gave her the greatest desolation of heart yet in the 
midst of her affliction, was the fact of not being 
able to recover the mortal remains of her child, to 
bestow upon them the honors of burial. 

“ I have always been of the same opinion with re- 
gard to the disappearance of Mdlle. de Pracontal,” 
added the priest. “Acting on my advice, her 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


113 


mother had erected on the spot supposed to be the 
one where the catastrophe took place, this iron cross, 
near which we stand at this moment. You see 
written here: ‘Lucy de Pracontal, June 25th, 1715,^ 
the date of her death ; nevertheless, the inscription 
does not contain the word, deceased. The other two 
crosses, placed a little lower down, existed before 
this one. They were erected at the fall of an old 
man and a young one, who were killed by rolling 
down the precipice. At present this little wall ren- 
ders such accidents impossible. 

“ Madame de Pracontal, being inconsolable, did 
not wish to live any longer in her grand castle, and 
retired to a very modest country-house close by the 
parish church. There she cherishes her tears, and 
weeps incessantly. I^ow, I fulfil with exactitude all 
the obligations of the pious foundation instituted by 
her. I say every day a mass for the repose of the 
soul of Mdlle. de Pracontal, and recite at the foot of 
this iron cross the office for the dead, towards two 
o’clock in the afternoon, the presumed time of her 
departure from this life. I w^as accomplishing this 
last duty when you came to join your prayers with 
mine. 

“ Gentlemen, you have listened to my recital with 
some interest,” continued the priest in a grave voice, 
“ but in order that you may find in this lamentable 
history a salutary lesson, it is necessary that I should 
add one other feature. It is known, without doubt, 
that ’Mdlle. Lucy, entirely preoccupied with her 


114 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


jewels and dresses that her mother had spread out 
in the chamber, forgot, on the 25th of June, 1715, 
to fulfil a duty which every good Christian should, 
on rising, perform in the most exact manner, under 
pain of incurring the anger of God. Yes, gentle- 
men, on the day of her marriage, a day so solemn for 
her, Mdlle. Lucy forgot to say her morning prayers.” 




CHAPTER VL 

MEMOIRS OF THE BARON DES ADRETS — THE YOUNG 
RABASTEINS VISITS THE CASTLE OF MONSÉGUR — 
FRIGHTFUL CATASTROPHE. 

HE last words of the venerable pastor of 
Monségur caused me to tremble, on hear- 
ing them pronounced in so solemn a tone. 
I recollected that I had not said my 
morning prayers; for, not having been able to enter 
my mother’s room, I \^ent downstairs hastily to 
receive these young people without thinking for my 
own part of performing a duty which I had never 
before forgotten. The regret which I experienced 
in having failed in it, rendered me very sad during 
the short passage which separated the castle from 
the domain of St. Peter. The enticing manner of 
the amiable Causans could not distract me from my 
painful reflections. On arriving at our dwelling, I 
invited my companions to be seated around the table, 
that the servants had set out with refreshments ; this 
left me time to go and present my respects to my 
mother. I ascended the stairs quickly, and found 
Madame de Rabasteins stretched on a lounge; her 





116 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


face appeared to be more sallow than usual, and her 
features more changed. Divining my presence, she 
said to me in a quick tone of voice, “I was sleeping 
this morning when the arrival of these young people 
compelled you to go down ; have you said your morn- 
ing prayers ? ” 

“Yes, mamma,’^ replied I, without hesitation. 
Thus I told a horrible lie in order to cover a previous 
fault; thus I plunged myself deeper and deeper in sin 
without foreseeing the consequences. My mother 
spoke to me a second time about the fatal precipice. 
I showed her how Madame de Pracontal had ren- 
dered all kinds of accidents impossible by means of 
a little wall built b}" her orders. Madame de Rab- 
asteins shook her head in sign of incredulity. I ex- 
plained to her at last the project that we had formed 
to finish the day by a complete exploration of the 
castle, under the guardianship of Grenadier Dufour. 
I expressed in glowing terms the pleasure that I an- 
ticipated from this excursion. My last words caused 
a blush of joy to pass over this pale face, as the sur- 
face of water ripples sometimes under the breath of 
a zephyr. 

I descended to the dining-room, where the guests 
were awaiting me impatiently. The repast was as 
gay and as noisy as one could possibly imagine, for 
the absence of all grave persons allowed a free course 
to this delirious excitement. Géraud de Crussol, the 
most petulant of the band, was the first to recall to 
our recollection the invitation to return, given by 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


117 


Peter Dufour. Géraud was a young man, a blonde 
of seventeen -years of age, with a charming face and 
a lively mind. They drowned his voice with ap- 
plause, and we commenced at once to regain the 
road to the castle. I had eaten without appetite ; a 
vague uneasiness controlled me forcibly. On leav- 
ing the table, I put in my pocket a large piece of 
bread, as children often do. I ascended again to 
Madame de Rabasteins, to embrace her before going 
out; she appeared touched with this attention, and 
pressed me tenderly in her arms. I could scarcely 
tear myself away from her bosom; it seemed to me 
that I was bidding her an eternal adieu. I was going 
to cross the sill of the door, when my mother called 
me back, saying: “Pardon me, my dear Maurice, 
but take your flask; you have left it on the mantel.’’ 

I went back immediately, and took away the flask. 
This forgetfulness gained for me one more last caress, 
the sweetness of which I knew well how to appre- 
ciate. After my long sickness, I experienced fre- 
quent nausea and fainting-spells; above all, when I 
experienced a disagreeable odor very near me, one 
^would then almost believe, on seeing the alteration of 
my features, that I was going to faint. The physi- 
cians ordered for me the moderate use of ammonia; 
this prescription had a very good eflfect. A flask of 
smelling salts became my inseparable companion. 

We came out of the domain of St. Peter about two 
o’clock, on Monday, September the 18th, 1744. The 
sky, filled with clouds, presented a gloomy aspect ; 


118 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


all believed that the day would not pass without 
some violent storm breaking out. In a few moments 
we reached the castle gate. We found there Peter 
Dufour posted on guard ; his military face bore the 
impress of unbounded kindness; we all surrounded 
him affectionately, as if he was an old friend, although 
our acquaintance with him dated only from a few 
hours. The guardian of the domains of Madame de 
Pracontal never left off the uniform of the regiment 
of Beance ; this dress elevated him in the opinion of 
the country people, and rendered him still more ter- 
rible in the eyes of the malefactors. 

Peter Dufour had promised to relate to us the his- 
tory of the Baron des Adrets, but, before speaking 
to us of this terrible warrior, the sergeant absolutely 
wished to speak a word to us about his escalade of 
Prague, a very natural desire for an old soldier. 

“We set out from the borders of the Rhine,” said 
he, “in April, 1741. In one march we made one 
hundred and fifty leagues. We fell into the middle 
of Bohemia like a bomb-shell, and we climbed upon 
the ramparts of Prague like cats.” Such was the 
commencement of this recital, which was incoherent 
and lengthy; nevertheless, in listening to it, our 
young hearts felt themselves transported with en- 
thusiasm; all seven of us were of a military race, 
and our parents had followed with brilliancy the 
career of arms. 

The episode of the escalade being finished, our 
excitement calmed down. Peter Dufour returned to 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


119 


his usual position, and he related the history of the 
Baron of Adrets, echoing all the fabulous tales that 
the country people had reported of this terrible cap- 
tain. 

“ He was,’’ said he, ‘‘ a large and very thin man, 
for he ate nothing; heaven had given him the 
faculty of living without eating and without sleep- 
ing; and still more he knew how to overthrow all the 
plans of his enemies by a most prodigious activity. 

“ You are not ignorant, gentlemen, that the Baron 
of Adrets commanded the Protestants of the Dau- 
phiné. After some frightful troubles, tranquillity 
was restored ; an order from the King commanded the 
two parties to cease hostilities. Des Adrets refused 
to obey, and continued to fight in that province ; the 
King promised a magnificent reward to him who 
should repress the violence of the rebel, and carry 
oAl' his person. The soldiers of the Baron were killed, 
dispersed, or feigned to desert his cause. All these 
men showed themselves very devoted to their chief, 
since he permitted them to pillage, and allowed them 
to commit with impunity every excess of which 
bandits render themselves guilty. 

“ Mouvans and Montbrun, the two principal lieu- 
tenants of Des Adrets, had soon abandoned him. 
Jealous of meriting the favors of the sovereign, they 
resolved to give up the Baron. He was now in immi- 
nent danger, for he saw from a rising ground some 
people in pursuit of him, who knew perfectly well 
his habits and manner of living ; he knew, never- 


120 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


theless, that, by dint of audacity and agility, he 
could escape from their pursuit. The family of 
Beaumont, from which the Des Adrets descended, 
possessed many domains spread about through 
Dauphiné; he found then at each step a secure 
asylum. Besides, the peasants dreaded him so much, 
that no one among them would ever think of indi- 
cating the place of his retreat to the people of the 
King. The one that the Baron liked best, was the 
Castle of Monségur, where we are now at this mo- 
ment. The Templars made it formerly one of their 
principal fortresses in Dauphiné, and no one lived 
there any longer through fear, for they related about 
him very frightful things. Des Adrets, who would 
not have fled from before Satan, had just concealed 
himself in this castle when Mouvans and Montbrun 
pressed very near. Once entered into Monségur, he 
upset all their plans. These two officers penetrated 
as well as himself into the castle, hoping to carry otf 
their old captain ; but he disappeared like a shadow, 
leaving his enemies to ferret about at their ease from 
the garret to the cellar. 

‘‘ They visited Monségur, perhaps, twenty times 
without being able to seize their prey, and notwith- 
standing that the Baron had entered there before 
their eyes a few minutes before them. Only one 
living being waited on and lived with the Baron in 
this terrible dwelling; it was a mute, over whom Des 
Adrets exercised a diabolical power. The most ter- 
rible threats were never known to induce him to in- 
dicate to any one the retreat of his master. In a 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


121 


moment of irritation, Mouvans and Montbrun, in- 
dignant at not being able to obtain any information 
from this mute, killed him by stabbing with a dirk. 

“ You would ask me, how the Baron existed in his 
hiding-place ? I am ignorant of what he lived on : it 
was most surprising ; for often his enemies blockaded 
the castle for several weeks, without allowing the 
least provision to enter. Many people felt sure that 
he lived upon spiders, a supposition very credible, 
for I have seen a drummer in my regiment who 
swallowed them by dozens. 

“ When Des Adrets knew, without doubt, that his 
adversaries were in the field, he went up into a high 
tower, and blew his horn in a most terrific manner. 
On hearing this signal, the soldiers who remained 
faithful to his fortune ran to arrange themselves 
under his command. The Baron took the field, and 
carried terror into the domains of his rivals. If one 
may believe the public voice, the horn which he used 
rang out such a wonderful sound, that the villagers 
heard it for ten leagues around. They have never 
again found this instrument, which must have been 
enchanted.” 

We interrupted the narration of the sergeant to 
ask him how the famous Des Adrets died. 

‘‘ I have heard from the pastor,” pursued he, “ that 
the Baron was born a Catholic, and had only em- 
braced Protestantism in hatred of the house of Lor- 
raine. Peace being consolidated, he returned to the 
religion of his fathers, and died at à very great age 
11 


122 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


in the Castle of La Frette. He had gained such a 
renown for sorcery, that the priests of his parish 
refused to administer the sacraments to him, although 
he made a profession of Catholicism. A Homan 
priest, however, more courageous than his brothers, 
gave him the last sacraments, after having exorcised 
him several times. 

“When, through the influence of the Count of 
Agoult, I had obtained the place of porter at the 
Castle of Monségur, I resolved to make some excava- 
tions in order to discover the hiding-place of the 
Baron des Adrets; but Madame de Pracontal, in- 
formed of my design, was opposed to its execution, 
and I was obliged to obey. 

“ It is certain that many Catholics and several 
priests were massacred in the subterraneous passages 
during the religious wars ; the family of Brion were 
shut in the entrance to these gloomy retreats, for 
being unwilling to profane some places that the 
martyrs had watered with their blood. Madame de 
Pracontal was always averse to any one making a 
search even within the apartments, for fear of their 
finding something that might cast a dishonorable 
reflection on the memory of her ancestors. It is 
asserted, that towards the commencement of the 
last century, a lord of this place, irritated to the last 
degree against his son, whose dissolute conduct was 
dishonoring his name, dragged him, after a terrible 
struggle, into a subterraneous passage, of which he 
alone knew the termination, and shut him up there. 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


123 


You can understand that such emotions are difficult 
for a father to endure; he, on returning to his room, 
fell down in a frightful apoplectic fit. He expired 
without having been able to pronounce a single 
word; his guilty son died of hunger in the depths 
of his subterraneous prison, for no one was able to 
discover the entrance ; besides, no one deplored his 
destiny, and they were not very zealous in their 
search.” 

Peter Dufour finished his recital with this frightful 
episode. We remained then in the interior of the 
castle; the sergeant led us to the summer-house, 
which served as a dwelling for him. At first we 
passed through a lower room, where the family lived, 
which was composed of five persons, of whom two 
were large girls. This room was remarkable for a 
large fireplace in the shape of an arcade, and was 
worthy of bearing the title of the family hearth, for 
ten men could warm themselves there at their ease. 
While we were examining this curious fireplace, my 
eyes fell upon a cat which was squatting in one of the 
corners of the hearthstone. This animal had a body 
entirely black and a head entirely white, a singu- 
larity which chained ray attention. Peter Dufour 
having perceived my astonishment, said to me: 

“ This is the oldest occupant of the house ; I found 
him in this lodging; a rather strange peculiarity has 
caused us to distinguish him from the other cats. The 
destruction caused by the rats placed me under the 
necessity of entertaining in my dwelling a half dozen 


124 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


cats; my children, as well as myself, amused them- 
selves by observing the manners of these useful 
guardians; each one of them chose a corner to sleep 
in, a retreat they adopted especial ]3^ We were ac- 
quainted with all the retreats, and the experiments 
that we tried in this regard never missed their aim. 
Well, this black cat that you are looking at this 
moment has placed all our vigilance at defiance; in 
vain have we followed him, spied him ; no one has 
ever yet been able to discover his nocturnal dwell- 
ing; he is gone sometimes for several days, then he 
reappears when you have believed him lost; he is 
absolutely like the Baron of Adrets. Besides, Fa- 
rouche, that is his name, is very difficult to govern.” 

Peter Dufour having ceased speaking, I ap- 
proached the cat, and put out my hand to caress 
him ; but he rose suddenly, slipped between our' 
legs, and disappeared through a passage with a sur- 
prising rapidity. 

“My wife and daughters,” continued Peter Du- 
four, “ are going to visit the castle; they work there 
sometimes for hours, but only during the day; for, 
being afraid of ghosts, nothing could induce them 
to remain there during the night. This will explain 
to you why I live in this summer-house, which is 
separated by an interior court from the main portion 
of the building, so that the sorcerers, with whom the 
country abounds, could, during the night, demolish 
the castle without our hearing the least noise. My 
son, a boy of thirteen years of age, is more cour- 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


125 


ageous than the women ; he ferrets, and climbs every- 
where, in hopes of finding some swallows’ nests, 
and commences many times his searches before sun- 
rise. My son unfortunately is at this moment at 
school at the schoolmaster’s house, otherwise he 
would have directed you much better than 1. I am 
going nevertheless to lead you to the armory, then I 
will leave you at entire liberty to go through the cas- 
tle from top to bottom ; Madame de Pracontal has 
ordered me to do so. Only take care not to break 
your limbs, for the floors are broken in many places.” 

Saying these words, the sergeant led us to a hexa- 
gon room, where we found spread out some old 
helmets, some wormeaten lances, and some rusty 
swords; then he retired and went to join his family. 

The horizon was overcast; it commenced to rain; 
the outer walk became impassable. To occupy our 
leisure moments we dispersed in bands, and one of 
the boldest was condemned to look for the others. 
The number of rooms, libraries, stairways, closets, 
rendered the task more difficult. This innocent 
amusement caused a diversion to the sadness which 
was overcoming me. 

Paul de Causans oftered himself as a holocaust, 
condemning himself to commence his search at the 
end of a quarter of an hour. We all sprang noisily 
about in all directions; for a very long time such a 
noise had not been heard in th^ Castle of Monségur. 
For my part, after having passed through several 
apartments, I stopped in a room rather large, but 


126 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


lighted by only one window. The wall was covered 
with a tapestry of tigiired leather, separated by 
large gilt rods. This beautiful hanging fell in tat- 
ters. In the middle ages the nobles adopted in pref- 
erence this style of hanging. One might have 
believed after this indication, and on seeing the di- 
lapidation of the floor, that this room had never 
been renovated, and that it had not been inhabited 
for several centuries; it appeared to occupy one of the 
extremities of the castle. A door, painted gray, half 
ofl* the hinges, was in the corner nearest to the win- 
dow. I pushed it with my foot; it opened for me a 
passage into a corridor, which led to a little stairway; 
I went down, governed by that sentiment of curiosity 
which inspires us with the desire of making fresh 
discoveries. At the foot of the stairway I found my 
progress arrested by a door strongly bolted ; I opened 
it with much trouble, and found myself on the larger 
part of the lawn, which led to the ravine by a gradual 
declivity. I distinguished at a few steps from me 
the iron cross erected in honor of Mdlle. de Pracontal. 
The sad recital of the priest returned to my mind. 
I advanced, and I even crossed the little walk to 
make a closer inspection of the mournful monument. 
I wished to read with my own eyes the inscription 
which decorated the cross. The date, 25th of June, 
1715, fixed principally my attention; then, turning 
my head, I perceived the pretty face of Crussol stand- 
ing with a lantern in the old tower. The rogue 
made signs to invite me to come there ; he disap- 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


127 


peared before I had time to finish my inspection. I 
was not slow, nevertheless, in regaining the terrace, 
and I ascended the stairwaj^ hastily, without think- 
Mig of closing the door. Sad negligence ! 

I entered the gilt room ; the piercing voice of Paul 
de Causans was heard from afar; the danger drew 
near. I crouched down in a dark corner formed' by 
the wall and the projection of a large mantel-piece, 
supported by two caryatides. As my enemy ap- 
proached I straightened myself, in order to conceal 
my feet as well as my elbows; consequently, my 
back leaned heavily against the tapestry. What 
was my astonishment when I felt that the wall gave 
way under my eflbrts ! Having turned my head, I 
perceived a sort of door, which was half open ; the 
four corners of this door were wonderfully concealed 
by the rods of tapestry, so that it was necessary to 
have a very experienced eye to discover its existence; 
it was fastened below by means of a button that I 
had pressed without intending to do so, when I was 
gathering myself up. At the sight of this outlet, 
which seemed to open on a very narrow passage, I 
conceived the project of taking refuge there in order 
to escape the active search of Causans. I glided 
quickly down this way, and I found myself in a very 
confined passage, where darkness reigned complete, 
for the door had closed itself again, without causing 
the least shock. 

Five or six seconds had scarcely passed, when 
Causans bounded in. He commenced by rummaging 


128 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


in the corner that I had lately occupied. I heard his 
step, and even the noise of his hands that he passed 
cunningly over the inner side of the tapestry, in 
order to discover some hiding-place. Feeling the 
danger so near me, I plunged involuntarily into this 
dark and narrow corridor, for I touched the two sides 
with my arms. Paul de Causans, having exhausted 
in vain his search, finished by abandoning the hall, 
and I soon heard only the echo of his harmonious 
voice. Free from all kind of fear I wished to go out 
of my retreat, and sought, by groping about, to find 
the entrance to this kind of case in which I was in- 
closed, and I no longer knew if it was before or be- 
hind me; for, having turned several times in this 
corridor, I had lost the right direction ; besides, the 
most profound darkness surrounded me everywhere. 

Having passed my hand by chance over the wall, 
one of my fingers was caught in a little oval cavity, 
the bottom of which seemed to yield to pressure. I 
exerted a certain energy to the movement, and the 
latch raised, and a door opened. This was not the 
one which had given me the entrance to this narrow 
passage; this new door seemed to be very heavy; it 
resisted my efibrts violently; one would have be- 
lieved that some one was opposing from behind a 
most vigorous resistance. I passed my head through 
this doorway, and I discovered a room, not very large, 
lighted feebly from above; in the middle of this 
room was placed a table and a leather arm-chair; 
further on, a helmet seemed to have rolled on the 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


129 


floor. These several objects excited my attention ; 
it made me wish to descend to this room ; I say de- 
scend, because three steps led down to it. I crossed 
the passage; my foot slipped on touching the second 
step; wishing to avoid a fall, I let go the door, to the 
edge of which I had.held; it closed with a frightful 
shock. This inauspicious noise caused me a move- 
ment of fear. I threw myself upon this sort of lever; 
my hand met with neither latch nor handle ; the 
door was covered over with a sheet of metal, which 
was fitted to its frame in such an exact manner that 
the cracks could scarcely be seen. I tore my nails 
in trying to introduce the ends of my fingers into 
these confined spaces. My head grew hot; fear 
commenced to gain upon me; it was no longer to be 
endured. According to my belief it only sufiiced to 
scream loudly in order to bring some one to iny assist- 
ance. This method was not, however, to my taste; 
for I feared to draw upon myself»the jests of my 
companions. Crussol and Causans would not fail to 
compare me to the fox fallen into the trap. I re- 
solved then to take some relaxation, not doubting 
that I should be able to break my chains without the 
help-of others. I vvished, while waiting, to visit the 
retreat where my curiosity, which was very natural 
at my age, had led me. This room was lighted by 
two openings of a foot in length, having the form of 
a cellar ventilator; these openings touched the top of 
the wall. A third ventilator, placed on the other 
side, only gave a feeble light, but it served to estab- 


130 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


lish a current of air strong enough to carry out the 
dampness from such a confined place. In returning 
I perceived there a nauseating odor, which sufibcated 
me. I thought, at this moment, of my fiask; I in- 
haled the salts with delight. This consoling comfort 
brought back all my resolution. 

This room appeared to me very gloomy on enter- 
ing it; the darkness diminished graduall3% and I 
could distinguish the objects that it contained ; above 
all, those placed on the right side, where the light 
from the ventilators shone more strongly. I saw then 
a helmet, and a hunting-horn like those which the 
knights of the middle ages used on the battle-field ; 
it was hanging on the wall on a large nail. I was 
looking at this instrument of war, when the recital 
of Peter Dufour recurred to my mind. Without 
doubt, the horn placed before me was the one used 
by the Baron of Adrets; and I found myself shut 
up in the wonderful hiding-place that served as a 
refuge for the terrible warrior when his enemies 
pressed too near. This reassured me fully, for I 
made the refiection that the Baron went out at will 
from this retreat, and that I should be able to do 
the same. 

My investigations being finished on this side, I 
turned my sight in the opposite direction. A Very 
large object, of which I could not determine the form, 
filled entirely the other corner, at the end of which 
the light penetrated much less. Iapproached,andsaw 
clearly one of those large leather arm-chairs, with an 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


131 


inclined back, used by invalids. Upon this arm-chair 
was settled comfortably a woman, whose feet rested 
on a footstool ; her bare head was bent, like that of 
a person who was sleeping. “It is, without doubt,” 
said I, “one of the daughters of Peter Dufour, who 
is just resting in this place during the heat of the 
day; on awakening, she will show me the means of 
getting out from here.” This reflection made me 
blush at myself for the panic with which I had been 
seized a few moments before. I called this girl 
softly to awaken her; she did not reply. Impatient, 
and fearful of being too late, I approached to assist 
her to rise from the arm-chair. I put out my hand 
to take her arm. I recoiled terrified. This sleeping 
woman was a corpse! I sprang towards the door, 
and I renewed my eflbrts to open it. I passed my 
hand over the surface, not doubting that I should 
discover a button, or some mysterious latch which 
would let me out into the passage. At the end of 
an hour employed in this fruitless search, I came to 
the sad conviction that I should never succeed in 
obtaining an egress from this terrible prison. 

Day declined rapidly. I no longer thought of the 
jests with which my young companions were going 
to overwhelm me. I commenced to scream with 
all my strength; my voice, inclosed in such a con- 
fined space, had no compass; the repeated efl^brts 
only showed too plainly the iusuflaciency of this 
means. My fears were commencing to be renewed, 
when a triumphant idea arose to repress this new 


132 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


panic. I seized the horn of Des Adrets — this famous 
instrument, whose sound had been heard for ten 
leagues. The vaults of the castle are going to be 
shaken ; what terror I shall till the inmates with ! 
I proudly took the horn, which was so heavy that 
my arms could scarcely support it, and placed it to 
my mouth ; but the horn did not give out the least 
sound. The copper being oxidized from contact 
with the wall, charged with saltpetre in this place, 
was perforated with a multitude of little holes, which 
reduced to nothing the value of this instrument, 
formerly so wonderful. I vainly tried to obviate 
this inconvenience by doing my best to close a few 
of these holes; this was lost time. The hours flew 
by with rapidity ; darkness commenced to surround 
me. I screamed a second time, without any more 
success. In return, however, my ear distinguished 
very clearly a tumult of voices, whose confused 
noises drew near and died away in turn. This 
tumult seemed produced by a crowd of people em- 
ployed in some search. I was certainly the true 
object of it. 

At this moment a terinble reflection threw me 
into an inexpressible trouble. ‘‘ O, my mother!” I 
exclaimed; “what will be your condition when you 
do not see me return with the other young people?” 
I felt faint. I leaned heavily upon the table, and used 
my flask. My strength having returned, I threw 
myself like a madman upon the door. I clung there 
with my hands, and even with my teeth. I expe- 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTILE. 


133 


rienced a sort of delirium. I struck terrible blows 
with ray feet, not doirbting that this noise would 
draw the attention of the inmates of the house. I 
clung to this idea, which was certainly the most 
reasonable. I employed several hours in this ex- 
ercise, despair rendering it still more fatiguing. I 
was worn out with weariness. The vault of my 
hiding-place resounded deafly to my cries. How 
would my mother — this delicate woman, so quick 
to be alarmed — support my absence? She would 
die of grief. I rolled on the ground ; I uttered 
howls more than cries. 

During this interval the castle clock w^as heard ; 
it struck ten times. This was exactly the hour in 
which I w^as accustomed to say my prayers, not far 
from my mother’s bed, before retiring. I fell on 
my knees; what earnest prayers I addressed to 
heaven in place of those I had forgotten to say at 
the commencement of this fatal day! 

After having fulfilled this pious duty I felt a fresh 
calm renewed in my soul, but a burning thirst tor- 
mented me; and how should I appease a want so 
imperative? A providential circumstance obviated 
it; it had rained violently for several hours. I drew 
near the dormer window; the w^ater had flowed in, 
and ran along the wall where the larger side termi- 
nated in a slope. I thought of placing my handker- 
chief in such a way as to form an obstacle. The 
experiment succeeded. The water flowed back on 
encountering this slight dam, in such a manner that, 


134 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


without much difficulty, I could draw into my mouth 
this consoling dew. 

The wonderful success that I had obtained in a 
situation so desperate profited me in many respects. 
In the first place, the tormenting thirst had disap- 
peared ; then I was restored to confidence on seeing 
that God had manifested in my regard his mercy 
by such evident signs. 

The mortal fears that I had conceived on the part 
of my mother commenced to be dissipated. I said: 
‘‘ Clotilde, endowed with a very remarkable intelli- 
gence, will have certainly found some means to 
deceive her mistress, and ascribe my absence to 
some natural cause; and to-morrow morning I will 
leave my prison before my mother has awakened.” 
This reasoning calmed my agitated senses. 

The interior satisfaction that I felt was asrain 
troubled suddenl}^ by an unexpected circumstance. 
The sky had cleared, and the moon appeared 
as brilliant as could be possibly desired. It shed 
on the fioor of my prison a light which seemed to 
me much more insupportable than complete dark- 
ness ; for, by the aid of this mournful light, I could 
then discover the corpse, whose presence I had in 
some manner forgotten. I experienced a frightful 
anguish of heart. I imagined that the skeleton was 
advancing to stifle me in its terrible embrace. I 
believed for one instant that I should expire with 
horror. 

I directed my steps backward towards the arm- 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


135 


chair, which touched the table. I seized it, and 
seated myself in it, taking care to turn the back to 
the corner in which the corpse lay. 

The lassitude, the painful emotions which agita- 
ted my soul, threw me into a sort of stupor. The 
heaviness and languor of body, more than sleep, 
spread itself through my entire frame. I no longer 
existed. Forty years have elapsed since that period, 
and the dreams that assailed me in that desolate 
night are still present to my imagination. The 
image of my mother did not abandon me for a single 
instant; she appeared to me pale, with dishevelled 
hair. God had restored her sight in order that she 
might seek for me. Her love for me directed her 
footsteps ; she discovered me at last. 0, misfortune ! 
once more reunited, we could never again leave this 
frightful abyss. 

I returned to life; that is to say, I awakened in 
the midst of the deepest darkness. I was not long 
in recollecting the mournful situation in which 
fatality had plunged me. My eyelids opened pain- 
fully, and my glance encountered two large eyes, 
placed in front of me in the opposite corner. I 
covered my face with my hands, persuaded that 
it was the corpse that was looking at me. Never- 
theless, by dint of reflection, and seeing my way 
through my prison, I gained the certainty that the 
terrible corpse was placed behind and not in front 
of me. I no longer doubted that this vision was the 
consequence of my dreams. I took away my hands, 


136 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


and I perceived the same flaming eyes, but fixed. I 
looked at them a long time without being able to 
guess what this object could be, for the darkness 
prevented my discerning the outline. However, 
the twilight crept through the ventilators, and by 
means of the light of day, which was thus shed 
through the room, the shining of these two eyes 
grew weaker; at last, the light becoming stronger, 
I could distinguish perfectly. . . . What was it? 
you would ask, my friends. A cat, the same that I 
had seen the evening before under the fireplace of 
Peter Dufour. Would you believe it, the sight of 
this living being in this house of death restored me 
to hopefulness. All that the sergeant had related 
to us touching the unknown retreat of his black cat 
returned to my mind. I advanced towards the 
animal to caress him; he did not give me the chance. 
Pising very briskly, Farouche climbed upon the 
wall, and escaped through one of the ventilators. 
The rapid manner in which this was executed proved 
that this exercise was familiar to him. 

This incident drew me from my stupor. This 
time I did not forget to say my morning prayers. 
With what earnestness I asked God to protect my 
mother ! What anguish this poor woman must have 
experienced on not hearing me return home! I 
shed abundant tears. Having risen, I sprang again 
towards the inexorable door, and I exhausted myself 
in vain eflbrts to shake it. “It is evident,” said I, 
“that this place served as a refuge for the Baron des 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


137 


Adrets; but this warrior went out frequently, since 
he evaded for many long years the pursuit of the 
officers of the King, and he died in his Castle of La 
Frette twenty years afterwards. I will finish by 
finding the means which the Baron used to open 
for himself a passage.’’ A secret voice gave me the 
assurance of it ; I regained, then, my courage. 

1 kept my back constantly turned to the corpse. 
Governed, nevertheless, by an irresistible feeling of 
curiosity, I approached this object, whose aspect alone 
caused me the most frighful shuddering, and I 
looked with attention at these inanimate remains. 
The head leaned upon one of the corners of the arm- 
chair, and was in the condition of a skeleton; the 
upper lip, contracted by the shrinking flesh dis- 
covered a row of very white and even teeth, which 
showed the youth of the subject. Some tresses of 
hair hung from the skull; the hands were mummi- 
fied and pretty well preserved; not one of the fin- 
gers bore a ring, a very surprising thing for a woman. 
The white satin shoes on the feet were decayed. One 
peculiarity, which astonished me, was a richly em- 
broidered handkerchief, which held the dress strong- 
ly knotted above the ankles. This dress, of light 
blue silk, was entirely burnt in some way in the part 
which covered the bust : the putrefaction of the viscera 
and of the flesh had produced this effect. I remarked 
the same traces at the knees and at the elbows: the 
bones of the skeleton came out through these open- 
ings. The neck, formed of cartilages, had resisted 
12 


138 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


the dissolving action of corruption much better : it 
was dried up without being deformed. 

As I advanced in my anatomical observations, curi- 
osity replaced with me the fright that I had experi- 
enced before. My eyes ran over the least details ; 
they were fixed at last on an object that I had not per- 
ceived, a necklace of pearls, which, white in their 
primitive state, had assumed a blackish tint by rea- 
son of their contact with putrefied flesh. To this 
necklace hung a cross of diamonds, over which a 
thick covering of dust dimmed the brilliancy. I tried 
to remove this obstacle by blowing upon the pre- 
cious stones, but I could not succeed in doing it; they 
remained fixed, and threw out no light. The sight 
of this cross, the sign of our redemption, inspired 
me with profound respect. I knelt down a second 
time. 

I ought to add that these investigations of the 
corpse would have been impracticable for me, if the 
flask had not served me as an auxiliary; without this 
preservative, that I owed to the maternal fore- 
thought, my organs, naturally very delicate, would 
not have been able to support the noxious odors 
that I breathed in this place. I should have suc- 
cumbed under the effects. 

Whilst I was contemplating the sad remains of this 
young woman, the recital of the pastor recurred to 
my memory. He had spoken of a dress of light 
blue silk, of a cross of diamonds, of a hand deprived 
of the nuptial ring in consequence of a fortuitous 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


139 


accident; without doubt I had before my eyes the 
body of Mdlle. de Pracontal, for which unfortunate 
being an incoYisolable mother had been seeking 
through half of Europe, not suspecting that her 
daughter was lying in a vault a few steps from her. 
Some villains had certainly strangled young Lucy, 
after having bound her limbs; however, they had 
not plundered her rich wedding presents ; this strange 
fact overthrew all my reasoning. But, the crime 
once committed, the assassins had left here their 
victim, and abandoned the theatre of their work. 
They had found, then, an egress to get out of; I 
would find it too. 

Certainly Clotilde and the people who surrounded 
my mother would feel bound to deceive her; they 
would tell her that my playful companions had 
thoughtlessly carried me away on an excursion, 
which was to last several days. These consoling re- 
flections banished the discouragement which gained 
upon me a second time. The desire for my pres- 
ervation became more powerful; I felt a desire to 
eat. Until then I had not thought of hunger. I 
took quickly the piece of bread, that, by a provi-. 
dential inspiration, I had put in my pocket, on 
rising from the table, twenty-four hours before. I 
ate it with delight. I was wise enough, nevertheless, 
to reserve the half of it. This repast terminated, I felt 
myself stronger and at the same time more uncom- 
fortable in another respect; thirst tormented me and 
I could not satisfy it; it was not raining, but the ap- 


140 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


pearance of the sky, filled with heavy clouds, made 
me believe that a storm was about bursting over 
Monségur, like that of the preceding evening; never 
had a farmer wished more earnestly for rain after 
a long drought. 

At this moment, a confused noise of voices was 
heard outside; some more active searches than the 
former ones were directed to my side. I returned to 
the project of attracting attention by. causing a great 
noise. I commenced to hurl rudely the helmet 
against the door, in order to shake it and to produce 
a considerable reverberation. This violent exercise 
was not slow in fatiguing me beyond all measure. 
I seated myself on my arm-chair, which was not so 
large as that of Mdlle. de Pracontal. Here I will give 
a minute description of my prison, and make an in- 
ventory of the objects that it contained. 

The room w^as six feet long and five wide; the 
height was out of proportion : fifteen feet at least 
separated the ceiling from the floor. Notwithstand- 
ing this height, the two dormer windows were suf- 
ficient to light the interior, for the rays of the sun 
penetrated there without encountering any ob- 
stacle; probably there was no building in front of 
this one in which I was shut up, and the ventilators 
opened upon a terrace. The large arm-chair had 
most certainly served as a bed for the Baron des 
Adrets when necessity compelled him to pass sev- 
eral nights in this retreat. A ^vainscoting covered the 
wall on one side; on the other the wall was plastered 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


141 


in lime; it was there that the hunting-horn hung, of 
which I could not make any use. A table of hard 
wood, very elegant in form, occupied the middle of the 
room ; several remarkable objects were arranged sym- 
metrically upon this table ; in the centre, a large quarto 
volume, bound in ebony wood, according to the 
fashion of the sixteenth century; a magnificent silver 
clasp enhanced the value of this book; before it was 
placed an hour-glass, and on the right was a group of 
those long black pins with which women do up their 
hair; to the left a dagger in an ivory case, richly 
mounted. The sight of this murderous weapon sug- 
gested to me an idea that I profited by immedi- 
ately. I rose triumphantly and ran to introduce the 
blade of the dagger into the crack of the door, which 
resembled that of a strongbox. I succeeded in shaking 
it feebly. I was convinced that it was fastened below, 
above and in the middle. Suddenly by some secret 
mechanism the three staples moved; hope returned 
at once to my soul, for man is as quick to rejoice as 
to be alarmed. While I was pressing heavily upon 
the blade, it broke in the middle. I remained stupe- 
fied. I tried to make use of the stump; the iron 
broke again a second time near the handle. 

Great discouragement succeeded this transport of 
joy. Plunged in sadness, I returned to the table, and 
opened the book placed before me. It was a French 
Bible, very old and rather difiicult to read. I com- 
menced to study it, thanking heaven for having 
furnished me with such a noble means of calming 


142 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


my impatience. The tutor charged with the direc- 
tion of my education had only allowed me to become 
acquainted with a small portion of the Old Testa- 
ment. I devoured with delight a book which spoke 
to me of the grandeur of God in terms so poetical, 
and whose pages presented to me a continued in- 
terest. I read for three hours without intermission. 
The table placed before the ventilators received the 
sun’s rays perpendicularly the light naturally de- 
creased as the day declined, so I could not continue 
my reading as long as I desired; but this exercise of 
the mind had calmed the heat of my blood. 

After having left the Bible, I felt myself tormented 
by the want of food. I devoured the second half of 
the piece of bread. A burning thirst set in at the end 
of this slender meal. At this moment the distant 
noise of thunder announced a storm ; at the com- 
mencement of autumn, showers are frequent. The 
lightning flashed through my prison with a fright- 
ful brilliancy. The tempest finished as usual by a 
heavy shower; the rain beat against the ventilators. 
I hastened to follow the proceeding that I had made 
use of before. I gathered upon my handkerchief 
abundant water, which, although lukewarm, was 
sweet and refreshing to my parched mouth. This 
water, running in under the wall, was filled with fine 
gravel, which was very disagreeable, and yet it 
seemed to me delicious. What would I have said 
three days before if any one had offered me such a 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


143 


beverage ? I, for whom nothing was sufficiently ele- 
gant or delicate ! 

Night brought forth again all its terrors; the heavy 
sleep into which I sank was interrupted twenty 
times by involuntary shudderings. I awakened im- 
mediately at dawn. The light penetrated slowly into 
the vault; gloom still surrounded me. I saw before 
me, and without experiencing the least fear, the 
same two eyes, sparkling with fire. The darkness 
disappeared gradually, and I was able to distinguish 
the cat, who kept his eyes fixed upon mine. The 
presence of this guest caused me a satisfaction which 
I could not understand. I approached it; it- rose as 
if to prepare for flight; my hand could nevertheless 
touch his silky coat. The cat climbed quickly up 
the wall, and went out by the ventilator, as it had 
done the evening before. 

When the cat had disappeared, I commenced my 
morning prayers, the forgetfulness of which had 
drawn upon me a chastisement which was now fall- 
ing on my mother, that angel of piety. When 
finishing my devotions, some repeated blows broke 
on my ear; this noise resembled that which masons 
make when throwing earth upon a wall. They had 
at last supposed that I had not left the castle. That 
which surprised me, however, was that the workmen 
labored far ofi* from my hiding-place. I hurled the 
helmet once more against the door, in order to 
attract the people of the castle to this point. This 
exercise fatigued me very soon. I experienced an 


144 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


extreme faintness : the growing age is less able to 
bear the privation of food than any other; my knees 
gave way under me. I approached the table to lean 
on it. Would any one believe it, in the midst of this 
uneasiness a most singular idea struck me ! I wished 
for the possession of the good arm-chair on which 
the corpse was placed behind me, upon which her 
limbs were stretched as comfortably as in a bed. I 
wished to take it away from her in order to rest my- 
self there in my turn, so much is the heart of the 
unfortunate blind to everything but the feeling of 
selfishness. This project was abandoned as soon as 
conceived. 

I established myself then upon my arm-chair. 
The blows continued to be heard ; they approached 
nearer to me. Wishing to calm the impatience which 
devoured me, I opened the Bible, and I commenced 
to run through it with avidity. No cloud veiled the 
disk of the sun, whose rays darted into the room, and 
shed through it waves of light. The Old Testament 
had captivated me in such a manner, that I forgot 
my situation, the place where I was, the objects 
which surrounded me, I forgot all, I say, except my 
mother. I was at her side, I read to her the solemn 
episode of Mount Sinai, and the sublime pastoral of 
Kuth and Naomi. 

While my eyes followed the lines of the book 
with the most earnest attention, my right hand had 
seized one of the long black pins v/hich lay near 
the volume, and I formed mechanically upon the 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


145 


table some ovals, angles, circles ; this amusement 
resulted in distracting me from my reading. There 
is some lightness in a head of seventeen years. 
Having closed the book, I amused myself in draw- 
ing upon the wood the initials of my name, copying 
those which were embroidered in one of the corners 
of my handkerchief. I succeeded in it; no one 
could have done better, for the large pin tilled won- 
derfully well the office of a stylus, which the an- 
cients used to write with upon metal plates. 

This amusement had occupied me for almost an 
hour, when my eyes were fixed by chance upon the 
square of ebony, which formed the outer covering of 
the quarto volume. I had carefully dried it with the 
sleeve of my coat without looking at it particularl 3 \ 
0 surprise! some other hand had traced several 
lines upon this wood by means of the hair-pins, but 
the dust, having lodged in the characters, prevented 
my reading them easily; curiosity hastened my 
eagerness, and I applied myself to picking out the 
dust with the end of the iron pin. 

My work being finished and the inscription ren- 
dered perfectly legible, I read : 

“ 0 unhappy one, tvhom faiality has plunged living 
into this abyss, raise your soul to God, ask his pardon 
for your sins, resign yourself to the sacrifice of your life ; 
you will never leave this tomb, 

“ Lucie de Pracontal. 

“28th Juin, 1715.” 


13 


146 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


Nothing could be clearer than the sense of this 
inscription, and, notwithstanding my mind refused 
to understand it, at last the veil was torn away. I 
had just read my own death-warrant. A cold sweat 
broke out over my whole body, my eyes wandered, 
and my hair stood on end with fear; my head fell 
heavily upon the sacred book. I cannot tell how 
long this fainting-fit lasted. I recovered my senses 
with difficulty by the aid of my flask. Then, for the 
first time, the dangers of my position appeared to 
me in all their gravity. The deep uneasiness that 
my mother would conceive in my absence had alone 
occupied my thoughts heretofore, but now — death — 
of which I had not thought, so deep had been my 
conviction that they would certainly come and deliver 
me from this odious captivity. 

These reflections pressed upon my mind, and the 
tragical adventure of Mdlle. de Pracontal was dis- 
played before my eyes with all its hideousness. 
They believed that she had fallen to, the bottom of 
the ravine which ran along the castle. If a sorrow- 
ing mother could have imagined that her daughter 
still existed in this vault, the old dwelling of the 
Montlaurs would have been demolished stone by 
stone. I read again the inexorable sentence; she 
said the 28th of June, and the inscription placed 
upon the iron cross was the 25th. Mdlle. de Pra- 
contal then had lived more than three days after her 
entrance into this abyss. She had died resigned ; 
the position of her body showed her to have been 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


147 


SO. As for me, I could uow calculate the hours that 
I had to live, for my last hope had just been taken 
away; the noise of the workmen had ceased for a 
long time; a mournful silence had succeeded to the 
tumult of voices; there was no more bread, I would 
expire of hunger; I should die full of life, the veins 
swollen with blood, and surrounded by living people, 
from whom I was only separated the length of a few 
feet. 

My mind rose with excitement; my old energies 
seemed to awaken once more. I rose suddenly. I 
walked like a madman, uttering frightful howls. In 
the midst of this confusion,! looked around seeking 
to discover amidst the objects in the vault, or even 
on the walls, some emblem of the Catholic faith, the 
consoling sign of our religion. Alas ! there was only 
to be found in this horrible place one cross, and that 
cross, made of the most precious material in the eyes 
of man, reposed on the bosom of a corpse! 

I resolved then to test another last expedient. I 
dragged the table near the wall, I placed on top of 
it the arm-chair, and I raised myself upon this scaf- 
folding in order to reach one of the ventilators; then 
I commenced screaming as loud as I could, in hopes 
of my voice being heard. I was not long in perceiv- 
ing that I was still very far away from the dormer 
window. I tried to climb up the wall, after the ex- 
ample of Peter Dufour’s cat; far from succeeding, 
this attempt only caused me great pain in my lingers, 
whose ends were mutilated horribly by being caught 


148 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


in the cracks of the wall. At this moment, the last 
rays of the setting sun having entered the ventilator, 
illuminated my prison entirely with a flood of light, 
and my eyes rested by chance upon the head of the 
corpse, whose shrunken lips left the teeth visible; it 
seemed to me that Lucie laughed at my vain eflbrts, 
and this vision, which was only a trick of my excited 
imagination, finished by overthrowing all the facul- 
ties of my mind. 

Having descended, I replaced the table and arm- 
chair with much trouble in their places; extreme 
fatigue and repeated yawnings had succeeded to 
this fit of despair. I suffered horribly from thirst. 
I sucked, many times, my handkerchief, wet from 
the evening before; my mouth, which had become 
truly a fiery furnace, drew from it some refresh- 
ment. I imagined that it would rain this evening 
as it had done on the preceding days. I approached 
the ventilator to examine the state of the atmos- 
phere; it appeared to me clear; there was no sign in 
the air to announce the approach of a storm. In 
short, this time it did not rain. The hours flew by 
more rapidly than one would imagine during this 
struggle between hope and despair. Already dark- 
ness reigned around me. I threw myself on my 
knees, and tried to appease the anger of God. This 
prayer calmed my agitated senses ; it seemed to me 
that the burning thirst had diminished. I experi- 
enced an inexpressible sinking ; it became neces- 
sary to use immediately the flask of vinegar to re- 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


149 


store me to my senses. The want of sleep was felt 
imperatively; I strove, nevertheless to fight it off, 
for fear that if I slept I should never wake again. 
It overcame my resolution ; but what sleep ! but 
what a night ! In hell the damned must pass such. 
Wild, fantastic dreams tortured my imagination, 
hideous spectres wound their arms around rne; my 
mother, generally so mild, appeared to me terrible 
and menacing; she showed me the mutilated body 
of my father; twenty times I opened my eyelids, and 
wished to chase away these mournful images; twenty 
times an unmerciful sleep brought them back to me, 
and showed them in a still more frightful manner. 

At last dawn, the last that I was to see according 
to my human calculations, commenced to shed its 
uncertain light into my prison. I returned to life; 
I still saw it; my eyes, weighed down by sleep, dis- 
tinguished, however, every object. The cat, regular 
in his habits, occupied the same corner; he slept 
soundly this time; without doubt my presence in 
this place no longer surprised him ; he closed his 
eyes; his watchfulness was at fault. I looked at him 
without moving; then a brilliant and happy idea 
entered my mind, and immediately I put in execu- 
tion a project inspired by God himself. Having risen 
as softly as possible, holding my handkerchief be- 
tween my teeth, I threw myself upon the cat ; the 
animal, as quick as I was, made one of the most sur- 
prising springs, but I succeeded in seizing him in 
the air; he struggled in my arms, mewing in an in- 


150 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


comprehensible manner, a supernatural light flash- 
ing from his e^^es, I experienced a feeling of fear 
which was nearly fatal to me. I believed for one 
moment that I had been captured by the demon him- 
self. The claws and teeth of Farouche were buried 
in my flesh ; but despair took away all physical pain, 
and I succeeded, after many efforts, in tying my 
handkerchief, and knotting it strongly, around the 
leg of the furious animal, whom I then threw far 
from me. The cat, restored to his liberty, sprang 
with a bound upon the wall, and climbed up with 
new agility, disappearing through the ventilator, as 
he had done on the preceding days. As for me, I 
threw myself on my knees to fulfil a Christian’s first 
duty of the day ; but I experienced such weakness 
in consequence of my long fast, and the terrible 
struggle sustained against an intractable enemy, 
that I fainted away while finishing my morning 
prayers. 




CHAPTER VII. 

BROUGHT TO LIFE — STRANGE REVELATIONS — FATHER 
HUET — SERGEANT PETER DUFOUR REWARDED. 



AWAKENED. I was lying on a bed 
in a dark place. Was I in the kingdom 
of shadows ? Had a miracle restored me 
to my family ? The sharp pains that I 
felt in my hands caused me to understand that I still 
held on to life. I saw before me two eyes much 
sweeter than those of the cat ; they seemed to watch 
for the moment of my awakening. At last I recog- 
nized, through the clouds which obscured my sight, 
the faithful Hubert. He raised my head and made 
me swallow some spoonfuls of soup. The bitter 
taste which was in my mouth disappeared very soon. 
I could not move; I was completely exhausted. The 
desire to talk governed me, and my tongue, sticking 
in some manner to the palate, refused to follow the 
impulse of my will. At short intervals Hubert made 
me take some drops of broth without uttering a sin- 
gle word. They had probably ordered him to keep 



152 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


silence. At the end of a certain time, of which I 
could not determine the length, for mj head was not 
in a condition to collect two ideas, a new personage 
appeared upon this mournful scene — it was the phy- 
sician. 

Day was about declining; I perceived that the 
feeble light which was shed in my room took then 
a different aspect; they had lighted some torches. 
My energies were restored gradually. I wished to 
articulate some words; a supernatural power en- 
chained all my senses. Hubert did not leave the 
head of my bed for a single instant. At last, after 
some vain efforts, I succeeded in breaking my fet- 
ters, and I said to him : 

“ And my mother, how is she?” 

My guardian appeared frightened; he extended 
his hands towards me to prevent me from continu- 
ing. In short this prodigious effort occasioned a sad 
crisis. I lost consciousness. This fainting-fit lastèd 
during the entire night, and they believed me dead. 
However, nature, which is very energetic at my age, 
deceived the prophecies of the people who sur- 
rounded me ; the wise prescriptions of Dr. Berlioz 
arrested the progress of the malady, and the fifth 
day I spoke pretty freely ; they replied to me, shun- 
ning, however, to provoke the least mental shock. 

Hubert and Clotilde surrounded me with the most 
attentive care. I asked them all at first where my 
mother was? 

“Madame dePracontal,” said Clotilde, “has taken 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


153 


her to Grenoble, in order to deceive her about your 
disappearance; they will return in a short time.’’ 

The hesitation that these people showed in their 
replies, the sadness spread over their faces, left little 
assurance of their word, which commenced to alarm 
me. When the priest appeared, it was Father Huet; 
his face bore the impress of a deep melancholy ; he 
said to me : 

“Maurice, you have caused us very great grief; 
you have given your mother such a rude blow, that 
she may never rise from it. Madame de Pracontal 
has taken her to the south of the province, in order 
to procure some diversion for her grief. I have a 
letter from these ladies, who have arrived at Grenoble 
very much fatigued ; your mother is also very sick.” 

This announcement made me tremble; I should 
have fallen to the ground had I been up. The priest 
retired, after having bestowed upon me some conso- 
lation with an eloquence and a charity which touched 
me extremely. 

I felt my strength return, thanks to the regime 
that Dr. Berlioz made me follow with such rare in- 
telligence. It was the fourth night that I had passed 
in my bed; my memory was returning to me grad- 
ually; my tragical adventure was unrolled before 
my eyes with all its incidents. I understood that 
God had used his own kind, strong arm to draw me 
out of the vault. One thing surprised me, however ; 
they had not placed me in my usual room. I imme- 
diately conceived some suspicions — the people of the 


154 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


house had deceived me.' My mother, I was con- 
vinced, was lying not far from me, overcome with 
suffering; they feared for both of us a heartrending 
interview. 

On the fifth day, early in the morning, after having 
taken some light food, I pretended to wish to sleep, 
and I asked that they should leave me alone, and shun 
making a noise. Hubert obeyed, left me, and de- 
scended to the oflice. I rose at the end of a few 
moments, and with trembling steps I took the way 
to my mother’s room. I found no one there ; all the 
furniture, the smallest objects occupied their usual 
places ; the large counterpane of yellow damask cov- 
ered the bed. I sat down and mj^ tears flowed freely. 
I regained my room with wavering footsteps; a vio- 
lent fit of fever set in from the time that I returned 
to my bed. The physician having seen me the even- 
ing before, was very much surprised at my condition, 
and taxed poor Hubert with negligence. I passed 
a very bad night, but a sensible amelioration of my 
feelings was felt towards the middle of the following 
day, and convalescence was pronounced under the 
happiest symptoms. The clergyman came to visit 
me for the second time, and seeing my recovery so 
certain, he became more explicit. 

have received letters from Madame de Pracon- 
tal, and I cannot now conceal from you that your 
mother is dangerously ill.” 

On hearing these mournful words, I made an effort 
to rise ; I wished to set out immediately, with the in- 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


155 


tention of going to Grenoble. The priest held me 
by the shoulders, saying : 

“ You could not take a hundred steps ; 3^our weak- 
ness prevents this journey. Your heart should at 
first become familiar with the heavy blow which is 
approaching you. Submit yourself, my child, to the 
will of God ; bow your head beneath the hand that 
chastises you ; a good Christian should not murmur 
against the decrees of Providence.” 

“ Ah Î” I exclaimed, “ she will die, and I will not 
be able to embrace her once more.” 

I wished to fling myself against the foot of the 
bed ; they were obliged to hold me, and the people 
of the house watched over me all night in order to 
defeat my plans. 

I suffered much mental distress ; affliction weighed 
down my heart, yet, in spite of myself and my grief, 
health returned with surprising rapidity. Having 
risen on the seventh day, I walked through several 
rooms of the house. I experienced a sweet satisfac- 
tion in seating myself in Madame de Rabasteins’ 
favorite arm-chair. The miraculous manner in which 
I had been taken out of the vault of Monségur made 
me conceive hopes of my mother. I formed the un- 
conquerable resolution, since my strength had re- 
turned so wonderfully, to set out the next day, with- 
out waiting any longer, to go and join her, and lavish 
upon her such cares as should recall her to life. 
Such was my design, when the clergyman entered 
my chamber. 


156 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


“My dear child,” said he, “have you reflected 
on what I said to you yesterday ? Have you looked 
upon this unhappy separation as inevitable ? I come 
to minister to you some consolation : priests are 
rarely the messengers of joy. Yes, Maurice, at this 
moment, that I am speaking to you, your w^orthy 
mother must have reached her true country, heaven.” 

“ Oh God !” I cried, “ I can then no longer delude 
myself; it is I who have killed her.” 

I threw myself on my knees, and a flood of tears 
poured from my eyes. 

The great sacrifice was then consummated; my de- 
spair knew no bounds. I regretted having been 
brought out of my hiding-place. I passed a frightful 
day, and the night was still more painful. Must I 
confess it, such a terrible shock did not stop my 
convalescence in its course ; it made surprising prog- 
ress. The day after the visit of the priest, Hubert 
brought me, towards nine o’clock in the morning, 
some black clothes, inviting me to dress immediately. 
My toilet finished, he threw over my shoulders a black 
mantle. In the province of the Dauphiné, this mantle 
shows the loss of a father or a mother; it is the uni- 
form of the orphan. At this moment my limbs trem- 
bled; I sank back into my seat. Hubert said to me: 

“ Since you have not been able to assist at the 
burial of your mother, it is proper that you should 
at least assist at the service of the novena.” 

I understood then his language, and the error into 
which they had led me, in order to shun the emotions 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


157 


whose consequences would have been fatal for me. 
I descended, leaning on the arm of my inseparable 
guardian. I found, on going out of the house, all 
the population of Monségur, who followed in my 
steps to form the cortège. This eagerness moved 
my heart. It would be impossible for my pen to 
describe to you the terrible blows that my soul had 
to endure during the funeral ceremony. I neither 
saw nor heard anything, and they carried me out of 
the church fainting. 

Without doubt you would like to know what 
happened during my captivity, and how I came out 
of my dungeon. I have already told you that Paul 
de Causans offered to run and seek his companions; 
he knew how to find them from the depths of their 
hiding-places, one after another, I alone excepted. 
Once all reunited, these young people, astonished at 
not seeing me, ran through all the numerous rooms 
of the castle, ferreting in the smallest closets with- 
out being able to meet with me. As day declined 
they resolved to return to the domain of St. Peter, 
persuaded that I had returned there unknown to 
them, as a joke. Arrived at the house, the band 
established themselves under the hedge which was 
in front of the garden, and this stupid Crussol 
mounted suddenly to Madame de Rabasteins’ room, 
and said to her without reflection : 

‘‘Maurice is not here, then, madame? We have 
been looking for him for two hours without being 
able to find him ; he has disappeared like a shadow*.’’ 


158 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


On hearing these words Madame de Rabasteins 
uttered a heartrending cry, and seized suddenly the 
bell-rope which hung at her side. In a few moments 
her room was filled with people. 

. “ My son has disappeared,^^ said the Baroness with 
emotion. 

Crussol, understanding then the imprudence of 
which he had been guilty, endeavored to mend rnat- 
ters. They pressed him with questions. 

This was his reply: “We were separated while 
seeking each other in the various hiding-places that 
the numerous rooms of the Castle of Montségur of- 
fered to us. For my part, I entered a little turret or 
tower, and, putting my head out of a round window, 
I saw below Maurice, who was looking attentively at 
the iron cross erected to the memory of Mdlle. de Pra- 
contal ; he had crossed the little wall which divided 
the lawn where the declivity led to the ravine. Since 
then I am ignorant of what has become of him. 
When we were reunited to look for him, we discov- 
ered the stairway by which he had descended. At 
the foot of this stairway there was a door of which 
Maurice had slipped the bolt to go out. We found 
this door open, a proof that Maurice had not re- 
turned the same way, for he would not have failed 
to bolt it again before mounting the stairway.” 

This recital finished, Madame de Rabasteins gave 
way to lamentations still more heartrending. 

“ The fact is clear,” said she; “ my son, after hav- 
ing examined this mournful cross, must have stepped 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


159 


over the precipice, and, like Mdlle. de Pracontal, have 
been carried away into the abyss. Go, my friends,” 
said she, addressing her servants, “I will give a 
thousand crowns, thirty thousand livres! What am 
I saying? I will give all that I possess if you will 
restore to me my son ! Hubert, Clotilde, lead me 
to this fatal place, since God, in his severity, has de- 
prived me of the faculty of being able to guide my- 
self!” 

It was necessary, to satisfy her wishes, to lead her 
to the esplanade of the village. The inhabitants of 
this place, armed with torches, hastened to the ra- 
vine; some guided by affection, others by the hope 
of gain. 

The rain compelled my mother to return. She 
seated herself near the fireplace so as to hear better 
the striking of the clock — counting, half hour by 
half hour, the time as it passed. Hubert was charged 
to inform her of the progress and the success of these 
active searches. They did not direct their steps to 
the side of the castle, since, after CrussoPs version, 
every one believed firmly that I had gone out 
without ever returning. Hubert came twice to an- 
nounce to his mistress that the numerous workmen 
had found nothing, not even the remains of the 
clothing of her son. Madame de Kabasteins ex- 
pressed her despair with a violence of which no one 
believed her capable, as heretofore they had only 
known her mild and resigned. 

The clock had just struck five when Madame de 


160 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


Pracontal appeared, to shower upon her friend the 
consolations of a neighbor, under circumstances that 
recalled all her own sorrows. On hearing the name 
of the lady of the castle, Madame de Rabasteins 
started from her lounge, addressing the lady in the 
most mortifying terms: 

“It is you who have carried off my son. The 
reprobation with which heaven has struck you is ex- 
tended to me. Cursed be the day in which I have 
known you.’’ 

Speaking in this way, Madame de Pabasteins felt 
her exasperation increase. It became necessary for 
Clotilde to seize her in her arms to prevent her 
from springing upon Madame de Pracontal. She, 
frightened by the manifestations of an animosity so 
unjust, hastened to leave the room. 

The frail constitution of Madame de Pabasteins 
could not resist such blows. A congestion of the 
brain set in one hour after this terrible scene. The 
supernatural efforts of Dr. Berlioz could not arrest 
the progress of the malady. Madame de Pabas- 
teins expired on Tuesday evening. The name of her 
son was the last word that she articulated. She was 
only interred on Thursday afternoon. Thus, I left 
my tomb when my mother entered hers. As I 
scarcely breathed on coming out of the vault, they 
did not know how long this alarming state would 
last; many people doubted that I would be able to 
survive an accident so serious. They were obliged, 
then, to proceed with the burial of Madame de Pab- 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


161 


asteins before I had recovered rny senses. This will 
explain why I was placed in another room, since 
mine was next to that of my mother. 

I am going to speak now of the manner in which 
my deliverance was effected. It is necessary to re- 
late here certain particulars, without which the for- 
saken condition in which I had been left would 
scarcely be credible. I have told you that the Mar- 
quis of Brion, having had a most lively altercation 
with his only son, had dragged him down into a sub- 
terraneous vault known only to himself, and shut 
him up there. The unfortunate father did not survive 
this fit of anger; he died of apoplexy towards 1660. 
The young man perished miserably at the bottom of 
his dungeon. In fact, he had rendered himself so 
odious by his violence and fixed impiety, that the 
people employed to look for him, even in the bowels 
of the earth, did not set about their search with 
much zeal. The immense estates of this branch of 
Brion fell to the share of the family of Montlaur, 
whose eldest children found themselves the natural 
heirs of the Marquis, in virtue of the most sacred 
rights. Nevertheless, the envious did not fail to 
utter outcries, which were still resounding when my 
adventure happened ; this explains why the relations 
of Madame de Pracontal interdicted all kinds of ex- 
cavations in the surrounding subterraneous passages, 
and even in the interior of the castle, for fear of 
discovering some corpse, which would give place to 
new recriminations. These precautions did not pre- 
14 


162 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


vent the country people from passing unfavorable 
judgments, and the mysterious end of the young 
Lucie de Pracontal was regarded as a sort of retalia- 
tion exercised by divine justice. 

They went so far as to say that the guilty son, 
the public voice thus designated the last of the 
Brions, uttered at certain periods the most heart- 
rending cries. The popular belief had so accredited 
this opinion that the daughters of the porter insisted 
that they heard during the night repeated groans. 
In short, the lamentations with which I filled the 
vault of Monsegur happened to reach their ears ; 
they did not speak of it for fear that Peter Dufour 
would turn them into ridicule. Thus, by one of 
those singular combinations of fatality, the certain 
means that I had to save myself became, by this 
fact, an insurmountable obstacle to my deliverance. 
They never thought of approaching the place from 
whence these groans proceeded, for the fear of ghosts 
kept every one away from it. I should have shrieked 
and made a noise in vain, no one would have come 
to my aid, and I should have died of hunger like 
Mdlle. de Pracontal if God had not suggested to me 
an extraordinary plan, and if he had not given me 
sufficient strength to execute it. I conceived the de- 
sign of tying my handkerchief around the leg of the 
cat. According to my calculation, this handker- 
chief, bearing the initials of my name, would become 
a certain indication of my existence, and would en- 
gage the people of the castle to make some search 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


163 


into the interior. I did not doubt that the under- 
taking would be managed vigorously by a man as 
resolute as the sergeant of the regiment of Beauce. 
All my surmises were realized in every point. 

At the moment when Farouche jumped out of 
the ventilator, which opened out upon a little ter- 
race, the young son of the porter was searching the 
gutters for bird’s nests; the cat knocked against him 
in passing; the child, surprised at seeing the cat 
dragging a piece of linen after him, commenced 
chasing him; he, frightened, having run through the 
first court, took refuge in the lower hall where he 
passed the days; all the family assembled there in a 
few moments. The sight of the cat thus dressed 
excited their surprise ; they closed the door, and 
caught Farouche after a terrible and unparalleled 
struggle, that the ferocious animal sustained for only 
a short time. One of the girls hastened to untie the 
handkerchief, and, guided by that exquisite intelli- 
gence which is a chief attribute of her sex, she called 
upon them all at first to look at the mark, M. R. 
They thought for a few moments, then these women 
cried out together : ‘‘ Maurice de Rabasteins! This 
young man then still lives, since he tied strongly, 
and only this morning, his handkerchief to the cat’s 
leg in order to make an appeal to our pity.” 

The porter applauded, and ordered his son to lead 
him to the ventilator from whence he had seen the 
animal come out; the child led him to a little terrace 
that the father did not know of. The young Dufour, 


164 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


having stretched himself out full length to see better 
into the dormer window, cried out : “ I see a man 
Ijing on the ground.’’ 

The porter assured himself of the truth of the 
fact; he returned to the summer-house, closed the 
outer door, and ordered the women not to allow any 
one to enter, nor to noise it about before the work 
was finished.. 

Peter Dufour armed himself with several instru- 
ments of masonry, and with a long ladder ; he judged 
it most prudent to reach the prisoner by the shortest 
way rather than to look for him through the interior 
apartments. I owe ray life to the sagacity of this 
man; without any doubt I should have been found 
dead in the vault if he had not commenced liis search 
at the other side. 

Peter Dufour, animated with zeal, succeeded in 
enlarging the ventilator in such a manner as to open 
for him a passage ; he let down his ladder, descended 
into the retreat, raised me up like a feather, and re- 
mounted with his burden, without giving himself 
time to examine anything, calculating that the least 
detention might compromise my existence. The 
women of his family took infinite trouble to restore 
me to my senses; the throbbing of the pulse proved 
that I still lived, yet my fainting-spell lasted still. 
Dufour, wishing to discharge himself from so painful 
a responsibility, caused me to be placed upon a mat- 
tress; they transported me to our house on Thursday 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


165 


morning, where the enlightened care of Dr. Berlioz 
accomplished the rest. 

But to return to my vault. I have told you that 
the sergeant had only remained there long enough 
to raise me up in his arms; besides, the darkness 
prevented him from distinguishing perfectly the 
surrounding objects ; his quick glance, however, per- 
ceived the head of the corpse. He did not speak 
of this fact to his family, but he believed it to be 
his duty, as porter, to inform his mistress of it. 
Upon his return, he related to her the manner in 
which my deliverance was effected, not forgetting to 
mention the incident of the head of the corpse, and 
the very white teeth, which denoted the extreme 
youth of the victim ^ the porter did not doubt that 
this head was that of the guilty son. Madame de 
Pracontal, not contradicting this discovery, shared 
the opinion of Peter Dufour, and ordered him, under 
pain of being sent away, to keep the most profound 
silence of this adventure, and to close up the venti- 
lator again completely. 

My deliverance had taken place abouta month; 
my strength and memory had returned. I recol- 
lected then, for the first time, the conversation that 
took place with my mother, on the subject of the 
lively regret that Madame de Pracontal showed in 
thinking that her daughter had been deprived of the 
honors of burial, and yet they did not tell me that 
she had taken the corpse away from the place where 
fatality had cast it. I remained convinced that the 


166 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


porter, preoccupied with the care of getting me out 
of this prison as soon as possible, had not perceived 
anything. A sentiment of piety imposed upon me the 
obligation of pointing out to Madame de Pracontal 
the place where the forgotten remains of her child 
were lying. I requested, through the priest, a 
moment of private interview with her; she replied 
coldly, “ that as this interview could have but one 
very marked end, it would be disagreeable to her.’’ 

I was not ignorant that, in the delirium of her 
affliction, my poor mother had addressed Madame 
de Pracontal in an outrageous manner; therefore, 
this reply did not surprise me. I wrote her a note, 
couched in these terms: ‘‘Madame, the interview 
that I ask you for becomes indispensable; it does 
not affect my interests, but yours. I was not alone 
in the vault of Monségur.” 

Madame de Pracontal saw immediately that the 
contents of my note corresponded with the report 
of the porter; she judged it prudent, therefore, not 
to irritate me so as to make me wish to divulge the 
discovery of the guilty son, a discovery which would 
produce throughout the country a very disagreeable 
impression. They pointed out to me the hour when 
I should make my visit. Here a reflection presents 
itself to me: it is, that misfortune quickly matures 
the mind. I gained this experience at my own ex- 
pense. The terrible trial through which heaven 
had just made me pass, seemed to have taken away 
the natural levity of my age. I conducted myself in 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


167 


this case with the coolness and prudence of a man 
of tift}" years of age. 

Madame de Pracontal received me politely, and 
commenced immediately upon the subject of the 
guilty son, without uttering a single word touching 
upon my frightful accident, and the recent loss of 
my mother, saying that she “ begged me not to 
mention, for some time, the discovery of the corpse 
of this young man.’^ It appeared to me then 
evident that the lady misunderstood me, and that 
she was ignorant of the fatal truth. I understood, 
then, that in order to subdue a character so proud 
and haughty, it would be necessary to invoke the 
power of some accomplished facts, instead of wait- 
ing for empty phrases. 

“ Madame, I do not come here,” said I to her, 
“ to speak to you of the misfortunes of the Marquis 
of Brion. I entreat you, in your own interest, to 
order Peter Dufour to return as quickly as possible 
to the vault by the same way, and to take from the 
table, which he will find in the middle of the room, 
‘ a large book, and bring it to you.” 

The strength of my words, and the firmness with 
which I uttered them, caused the lady of the castle to 
understand that there were some very serious mat- 
ters at stake. The porter was called and received a 
formal order to execute neither more nor less than 
what I had just pointed out, without the help of any 
one, and without mentioning it to any one. This 
man having gone out, Madame de Pracontal threw 


168 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


herself again into her arm-chair, where she remained 
immovable and given up to reflection. On my part, 
I shut myself up in an absolute and profound silence. 

At the end of about an hour, Peter Dufour reap- 
peared, and delivered the book to the lady, who sent 
him away by an imperative sign. I took the quarto 
volume in my hands, I passed my coat-sleeve lightly 
over the ebony cover, and, after having cast a rapid 
glance over the mournful inscription, I presented 
the closed volume to Madame de Pracontal, saying 
to her : “ Read, madame.” 

I cannot describe to you the sudden eflect that the 
three lines produced upon this haughty woman, who 
seemed to treat me with a sort of disdain. Her face, 
lately so impassible, was changed in an instant, and 
presented to my aflTrighted mind a certain resemblance 
to the face of the corpse of Monsegur; the teeth, which, 
by a very rare privilege, Madame de Pracontal had pre- 
served intact, added still more to the illusion. She 
fell fainting upon her seat. Her people assembled at 
my call. Having recovered her senses, Madame de 
Pracontal pressed me in her arms, overwhelming me 
with thanks, for she understood now the motives of 
my reserve; my adventure had given her at last the 
secret of the catastrophe of her daughter. 

Peter Dufour was recalled instantly, and received 
the order to set some workmen to work to make a 
large opening in the wall which stood on the little 
terrace. The arm-chair and the burden that it sup- 
ported were raised up. They placed them in the 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


169 


room that Lucie occupied the same morning of her 
marriage, for nothing had been changed in this 
habitation. Madame de Pracontal recognized her 
daughter, and covered her dear remains with her 
tears. She received with devotion the last locks of 
that magnificent head of hair, which had formerly 
been the object of her maternal pride. Father Huet 
was invited to come and remove the corpse. This 
priest saw himself condemned, at the end of thirty 
years, to bury the young girl whose union he had 
blessed. M. de Quinsonnas, who had wedded Mdlle. 
de Pracontal and who had found himself a widower 
two hours after the nuptial ceremony, showed him- 
self for a long time inconsolable for this loss; he 
wore, religiously, deep mourning for two years; 
yielding at last to the pressing solicitations of his 
relations, he married into the family of Virien, to- 
wards 1720. He found himself, in 1745, the father 
of a numerous family. Some business matters led 
him to Hyons, to the house of one of his sisters, just 
at the time of my catastrophe; the noise of this ad- 
venture quickly reached his ears. M. de Quinsonnas, 
already weighed down with age, ran, nevertheless, 
in all haste to contemplate the inanimate remains of 
the one whom heaven had formerly destined for him, 
and who he had sworn at the foot of the altar to make 
happy. What various thoughts must have then 
passed through his sorrowful heart! These two be- 
ings, coming together, at the end of so many years. 


170 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


the one dead and the other fall of life, produced a 
scene as strange as mournful. 

I could not exactly satisfy myself as to the motive 
which had induced Lucie to tie her dress around her 
ankles with a handkerchief; some ladies made an 
explanation attributing it to a feeling of modesty. 
The prisoner feared that the tortures of the last agony 
would disturb too much her light clothing. Madame 
de Pracontal wished that the precious cross of dia- 
monds should not leave the remains of her daughter. 
She decided as well that the body should be buried 
in the same place where, by the will of God, it had 
remained lying thirty years. This vault was trans- 
formed into a chapel, with the permission of the dio- 
cesan authority, and Mdlle. de Pracontal, inclosed in 
a double coffin, remained resting in her chamber, 
under the guard of several clergymen. They set im- 
mediately to work. Some expert workmen were 
called to Monségur. I was to serve as guide to pene- 
trate into the retreat, through the interior apart- 
ments, since henceforth they were only to go there by 
this way. It was easy for me to find the first door 
in the passage, but we had to look a long time before 
finding the little round cavity upon which my hand 
had rested by chance and had caused the fatal spring 
to move. At last, I descended again those three 
steps which had been so sad for me. The door 
closed itself with the same noise. I could not help 
shuddering, and nothing less than the presence of the 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


171 


five or six persons who accompanied me reassured 
me. 

I cannot express the terrible sensations that I ex- 
perienced on finding myself a second time in this 
vault; it seemed to me that I must have sojourned 
there for entire years, the sad hours held such a 
heavy place in my memory. I could not help shed- 
ding very bitter tears in this place when I thought 
that this catastrophe had just cost me an irreparable 
loss, the loss of a cherished mother. 

When the architect who was charged with the 
execution of this work had finished taking the di- 
mensions and giving the necessary instructions to 
the master mason, we wished to go out of this room 
by the door which had closed itself; but all these 
men together could not succeed in opening it. At 
last, after having lost one hour in vain efforts, we 
had to resign ourselves to removing the boards 
which had been placed before the. large opening, and 
we then succeeded in regaining our liberty. The 
architect hastened to report this peculiarity to 
Madame de Pracontal, and obtained from that lady 
the authority to destroy forever this terrible obstacle; 
in short, having gathered together seven or eight 
locksmiths, with very strong instruments, he set to 
work the next day. All these men united and broke 
open the door. They discovered a formidable appa- 
ratus of chains, pulleys, and enormous weights. 
These chains were fastened below in the foundations 
of the building, and were held above by large beams 


172 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


of oak. They could not help admiring this vast and 
complicated work. The door was then broken open, 
but they had not yet obtained the solution of the 
problem; not one workman could discover the 
means which the Baron des Adrets had used to 
open the latch inside. Such a proof satisfied my 
self-love, and I ceased from that time to accuse my- 
self of awkwardness, as I should have done before 
the expedition of the architect. 

They did not wait to finish the work before they 
proceeded to the consecration of the chapel. Madame 
de Pracontal desired extremely that the ceremony 
should be performed by her relation, Monseigneur 
de Simfane, Bishop of St. Paul Trois Châteaux, but 
this prelate had just resigned, and Monseigneur 
Lambert, his successor, hastened to the castle of 
Mon^égur, to bless the vault.* The crowd of the 
faithful eagerly followed, his steps. The third day 
they dug the grave, and tljEt'coffin inclosing the body 
of Mdlle. de Pracontal was placed there. Father 
Huet naturally presided at thé* funeral ceremonies. 
He felt himself tottering sêyeral ti nies while fulfilling 
this painful task. . • ' ‘ ^ v 

The accident'of which I had failed to be the victim, 
and the discovery of the corpse of the young bride 
of 1715, made a great noise, not only in the Dau- 
phiné, but still more in the neighboring provinces. 


* This chapel, as well as all the buildings of the old Castle of 
Monségur, was destroyed in 1793. 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


173 


Every day some stranger presented themselves at the 
castle, who asked to visit the funeral vault. These 
visits became so numerous, that they were obliged to 
close the doors and resist all entreaties. The crowd 
of the indiscreet curious, only increased the melan- 
choly of Madame de Pracontal, who was then enter- 
ing her seventy-third year; at this age strong emo- 
tions are mortal. Some serious complaints troubled 
her health, which had hitherto resisted such sharp 
sorrows. This lady languished, and expired at the 
end of six months. I had made only one request of 
her, which she had the kindness to grant. I desired 
that the Bible, the reading of which had given me so 
much consolation during my captivit}^, should be 
given to me. Madame de Pracontal presented it to 
me, but kept, nevertheless, the ebony cover upon 
which a hand so very dear had traced those mourn- 
ful lines. 

On looking at Father ITuet for the first time, one 
would almost believe that they saw a captain of dra- 
goons disguised as a priest; but in that large breast 
beat a heart extremely sensitive, which could not 
resist such repeated blows. Father Huet fell into a 
decline. He was to give up the administration of the 
parish at the' end of the year. His family, who 
cherished him, received him into their bosom and 
lavished on him the most tender cares; these cares, 
however, could not cure his melancholy, and he suc- 
cumbed to it. 

As for me, with a broken heart, and a brain full 


174 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


of mournful thoughts, I saw myself besides con- 
demned to an existence filled with bitterness. These 
frightful preoccupations did not prevent me, how- 
ever, from thinking of acquitting the debt of grati- 
tude that I had contracted with my liberators. I 
wished that Peter Dufour and his family should re- 
ceive a real testimonial of my gratitude; a pension 
of four thousand pounds placed them in a position 
to live independently of every one. That which 
charmed the sergeant the most with his new fortune 
was, that he was able to renew each year his* uniform 
of the regiment of Beauce. 

I sought for a long time in my mind for some 
means of rewarding Farouche; I could not find it. 
This poor animal, very much frightened at the con- 
sequence of the two terrible assaults that he had had 
to sustain, blow upon blow, fled from the dwelling, 
and wandered for one entire month upon the roofs. 
At the end of this time, one fine morning, they found 
him crouching, with his eyes .half closed, in his ha- 
bitual corner under the fire-place. This apparition 
caused a surprise, mingled with joy, among the Du- 
four family, who still occupied the summer-house of 
the Castle of Monségur. The children of the ser- 
geant wished to catch Farouche, and carry him off 
with them to their father’s new dwelling, but this 
time the cat succeeded in opening a passage; he 
escaped, and since then Farouche never again ap- 
peared. 



CIÎAPTER VIII. 


PAINFUL SITUATION OF THE YOUNG BARON DE RABAS- 
TEINS — HIS REMORSE — HIS JOURNEY TO BUGEY — 
THE TWO LITTLE SAVOYARDS. 



THERS in my place would have hastened, 
perhaps, to abandon the theatre of their 
misfortunes, and would have taken a dis- 
gust to a country where such sad acci- 
dents had taken place. I felt very diiFerently; the 
Dauphiné had become to me a true country, since 
this province held the tomb of my mother. I re- 
mained then at Monsegur, but, weighed down with 
grief, I felt myself followed without intermission 
by the most heartbreaking remorse; the murderer 
could not have felt it more cutting. Madame de 
Rabasteins had the catastrophe of Philisbourg always 
present in her mind; the forgetfulness of the morn- 
ing prayer had caused the death of her husband : 
nothing could distract her from this thought. I 
could much more justly attribute the death of a 
cherished mother to my thoughtlessness. This con- 
viction, which could not be doubted, caused my per- 




176 THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 

petual torment; it became a heavy chain that I 
dragged painfully after me, as the galley slave drags 
his ball, from which he is only separated when he 
enters the grave. 

The gayety of my age had completely disappeared ; 
a smile never enlivened the features of my face; na- 
ture, even, seemed to be tinged with my griefs ; the 
aspect of it was entirely changed in my eyes ; for me 
the trees no longer had any foliage, and the sky no 
longer any azure. I remained for two years in a 
sort of stupor which resembled idiocy ; the days 
rolled on without my being able to utter more than 
three or four words, to ask for things that were in- 
dispensable to the wants of life. My existence would 
most assuredly have been crushed in the midst of 
this frightful stagnation, if I had not been sur- 
rounded with the tender cares of the two servants, 
Hubert and Clotilde. One could scarcely believe 
that these people, in the condition of hirelings, 
could show such complete devotion, a sensibility so 
exquisite, an unselfishness so entire. One strange 
fact with regard to these two beings, — of the same 
age, the same condition in life, and very well as- 
sorted tb be united in marriage, they detested each 
other cordially, and quarrelled without ceasing, ex- 
cept when waiting on me; then all contention ceased; 
the two enemies united then to satisfy the slightest 
of my desires. 

Strong minds have always denied the existence of 
ghosts; without fearing to cast ridicule and con- 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


177 


tempt upon people who believe in the reality of 
these apparitions, I merit in this regard to be over- 
whelmed with their sarcasm. Madame de Kabasteins 
has appeared to me often, in her usual form, over- 
come by her blindness, her eyelids. cast down, her 
hair falling down her cheeks, and without powder, 
as she wore it in the convent at Lyons. It pleased 
me to cherish these illusions, and far from being 
frightened at them, as others have been, I looked 
for them with eagerness. 

The study of history and philosophy entirely filled 
my sorrowful leisure. All at once I paused in the 
most interesting reading, and urged by a secret wish 
I went into the chamber of Madame de Rabasteins; 
I seated myself not far from her arm-chair, near the 
fireplace, and opposite to a folding-door, leading to 
the little room occupied by Clotilde. During the 
short time that she lived in the domain of St. Peter 
Madame de Rabesteins had made some very strict 
rules, agreeing with the rectitude of her mind. In- 
stead of using the bell to call her people, she rose, 
and passed softly through her room to give her orders. 
She had told them in the most positive manner not to 
lead her in these short excursions. We took care, 
nevertheless, to clear the passage of all furniture, or 
any other object which might oppose an obstacle to 
her steps. Once having given her orders, Madame de 
Rabasteins retraced her steps to her customary rest- 
ing-place, closing carefully all the doors like a well- 
bred person, and succeeded in reaching her own 


178 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


room at last, turning the key softly, in such a pecu- 
liar manner that I always expected immediately to 
see my poor mother. Madame de Kabasteins re- 
gained her arm-chair, taking care to incline gently, 
as though she were in the presence of a numerous 
company. 

I went to seat myself, as I said, near this arm- 
chair, now deserted ; I remained a long time over- 
come, under the weight of my mournful recollec- 
tions. I experienced suddenly a frightful anguish 
of heart, my forehead was covered with cold per- 
spiration ; then I heard the key turn in the lock, 
with that noise so familiar to my ears, the door 
opened, and my mother entered, slowly she passed, 
bowing according to her modest custom, and went 
to rest on the lounge of crimson damask. 

I contemplated eagerly this cherished image. I 
was in an ecstasy. The illusion remained complete 
so long as I did not move. Urged at last by the 
most tender desire, I sprang towards her, to cover 
those dear hands with my caresses ; but instead of 
meeting those knees upon which I had so often 
been softly cradled, I found only a mute piece of 
furniture, whose coarse stutt' scratched my face. I 
allowed myself to fall upon the floor, shedding many 
tears, and uttering the most plaintive cries. At this 
moment, Clotilde ran and led me back to my room. 
This good girl watched the slightest movement of 
her master; knowing me to be in Madame de Rab- 
asteins’ room, she listened behind the door, and 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


179 


only appeared when my lamentations told her that 
the crisis was commencing. 

If such hallucinations followed me during the 
day, what would not happen in the middle of the 
night? My mother never left me in my dreams. I 
had found her again, we were conversing together; 
she continued to give me lessons upon many sub- 
jects, to correct the southern mode of speech, which 
was very defective, and which she was in despair 
about; for Madame de Rabasteins had learned, while 
with the Ursulines of Lyons, to speak French in much 
greater purity than the ladies of Languedoc. When 
the sunlight came to cause my awakening, I regret- 
ted to be torn away from a life whose perpetual con- 
tinuance I should have wished for at the price of all 
the goods of this world. 

During these fantastic nights, I saw my mother 
advance on tip toes towards my bed, lean over my 
face to listen if I breathed in a regular manner; her 
hand rested lightly on my breast ; her breath touched 
my eyelids lightly ; sometimes she would place me 
in a more comfortable position. One evening, when 
I was really not asleep, this phenomenon was repro- 
duced in the midst of the thickest darkness. The 
head of my mother leaned over mine; her warm 
breath penetrated into my eyes; I carefully held my 
breath, for fear that the least noise would destroy 
this magic spell ; one moment came when I could 
hold it no longer. I caught in my arms this head so 
near mine, and I pressed it to my heart with an uu- 


180 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


utterable happiness. It was the head of Clotilde ! 
Following the example of her mistress, this faithful 
servant came to watch over me during sleep, so much 
was she alarmed since Doctor Berlioz had not con- 
cealed from her the danger with which her young 
master was threatened by following a kind of life so 
extraordinary. 

My j)osition interested the people who served me. 
I was just about reaching my twentieth birthday 
without my grief diminishing, when Monseigneur 
Lambert, Bishop of St. Paul Trois Châteaux, had the 
extreme ki’ndness to visit me in order to bring me 
some consolation. I opened my soul to this worthy 
prelate, declaring to him that I wished to fly from 
the world, and to consecrate the rest of my days to 
the monastic life. Monseigneur Lambert did not 
receive my overtures as I had expected. 

“ This vocation for retreat has only come to you in 
consequence of your grief; you wish to leave the 
world, and you are not yet acquainted with it ; and if 
it happened that you should regret it when it would no 
longer be possible for you to return to it, what would 
your existence then be ? God does not lend himself 
to any such imprudent sacrifices, and, before conse- 
crating yourself to him, it is necessary that you 
should pass through certain trials. I will point them 
out to you, my child, and you should not fear going 
astray in following the line that your first pastor will 
draw out for you. You should know, above all, that 
you are not yet of an age to make vows. I exact 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


181 


that you commence by going out of the narrow circle 
of your habits of life, I will not advise you to rush 
into the tumult of the world, but I will exact that 
you leave for some time the house of St. Pierre.’’ 

The proposition alone of abandoning the place 
where the ashes of my dear mother rested made me 
start, and caused me to experience a sort of nervous 
fainting. This trial convinced the wise prelate still 
more of the necessity of bringing some diversion to 
my gloomy fancies by a sudden change; he urged 
the fact that he wished to pass several days with me, 
under the same roof, in order to accustom me, without 
doubt, to the authority of his word. I confess that 
such a sacrifice on his part touched me sensibly. 
The Bishop of St. Paul charmed my mind as well as 
my heart by his conversation ; he did not cease 
praising the rural beauties of Bugey, his native 
country, where he had exercised the ministry for so 
many long years; in short his exhortations made 
me decide to take a journey into this neighboring 
country, as well as Dauphiné. Following the advice 
of Monseigneur Lambert, I was to make this journey 
on foot, accompanied by Hubert alone, who was to 
carry my light baggage. 

How much it cost me, however, to put in execu- 
tion a project that formerly would have caused me 
such transports of joy. It seemed to me that I was 
leaving the half of myself at Monsegur. I set out 
on my journey in the middle of the spring of 1746, 
accompanied by my faithful Hubert. Following the 


182 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


advice of the Bishop, we went on foot, and we 
stopped when fatigue compelled us. These forced 
journeys procured for my weariness a very salutary 
diversion. We had to pass through the whole 
length of the Dauphiné, in passing by St. Mar- 
cellin and Latour-du-pin. During this passage my 
habitual sadness diminished but feebly. I was able 
to account for it later, and I attributed it to the 
melancholy shade that was shed over the rich country 
of the Dauphiné. On arriving at Bugey, the face of 
the scene changed as though by enchantment, and 
my gloomy thoughts appeared to vanish before the 
magnificent spectacle which ofiered itself to my 
sight. It is not possible to see any corner of the 
earth prettier, more gay, or ravishing than this little 
Bugey, encircled between the Alps, the Rhone, and 
the river Ain. 

I had furnished myself with a letter from the 
Bishop of St. Paul Trois Châteaux. This recom- 
mendation gained for me the most touching reception 
on the part of the religious who directed the college 
of Belley. This establishment occupied a superb 
building. The principal hall contained a rich library. 
It was permitted that I should take, in this college, 
a lodging for mj^self and valet. I employed in these 
rural peregrinations every moment that was not con- 
secrated to study. I obtained with difiSculty from 
the faithful Hubert permission to go alone into the 
country. 

I could not picture, with any expression .of our 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


183 


language, the natural beauties which offered them- 
selves at every step in this delicious Bugey. My 
mood had changed; my thoughts were a shade less 
mournful — I almost laughed. If, sometimes, some 
terrible remembrance was about to attack me, it 
would disappear at the sight of some admirable view 
of a running meadow-land that I trod with enthu- 
siasm, like a carpet that the fairies had stretched 
under my feet. I would go and seat myself in the 
morning on a little hill not very far from Belley ; and, 
from this point, my wondering eyes took in the 
whole extent of a landscape, the magnificence of 
which could not be depicted either with the pencil 
or tongue. That which characterizes this country 
is the small proportion in which it is outlined; noth- 
ing is very extended ; at each turn of the road the 
scene takes a different character. ^N^either Italy nor 
Switzerland, so much boasted of, have ever offered 
to me the charming views of this little Bugey, of 
which no one ever speaks. 

One morning, in the latter part of May, I set out 
very early from the college, wdth the intention of 
pushing my explorations farther than usual. I was 
advancing in the direction of Virien-le-Grand, with- 
out ceasing to utter exclamations of joy at the sight 
of the w^onders that it pleased nature to spread 
before my eyes. At the end of several hours’ walk- 
ing I felt myself fatigued, and I made choice of a 
place to repose in — a natural cradle that the trees 
had formed with their kind branches. I was 


184 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


stretched full length on the foliage ; my head was 
settled, as at a window, between two willows, which 
had approached each other and were interlaced. 
The thick foliage which grew on the declivity 
covered half my face. The road from France to 
Annecy passed by the eminence upon which I had 
established myself, and from one point of view I could 
take in a great part of the road, which described at 
this spot one of the most elegant curves. I was con- 
templating, penetrated with admiration, this mute 
scene, when, by a providential chance, two actors 
came to animate it, expressly, as it were, for me, in 
the most interesting manner. 

From the Annecy side advanced rather slowly a 
little girl in a woollen dress, carrying a good-sized 
wallet; judging from her appearance she might be 
eleven or twelve years of age. From the French 
side came quite rapidly a young boy, a little older, 
stout and strong, his head covered with a coarse 
woollen cap. I had scarcely measured with my eyes 
the distance which still separated these good little 
people, when I saw them run towards one another, 
ciying and clapping their hands. The following 
was the conversation : 

“Ah, you here, Nicolas!” 

“Ah, you here. Marguerite!” 

They were two little Savoyards, brother and sis- 
ter, whom fortune had reunited unexpectedly. They 
embraced each other with great joy. The sheltered 
nook which I had chosen prevented me from being 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


185 


seen by these children; and their confidence was 
unrolled before me without my losing a word. 

‘^Nicolas, you have come then from France; we 
did not expect you so soon at home.’’ 

‘‘I come from Lyons, where I have been working 
all winter at Cousin Antoine’s. Our mother is well, 
I will embrace her, thank God, day after to-morrow.” 

“Say, then, Nicolas, you have not forgotten what 
our parents have told you, never to miss saying your 
prayers, and to take ofi* your cap when passing be- 
fore a church?” 

“ I have never failed to do so, 1 assure you ; and 
you. Marguerite, where are you going to? How is 
this; you have on a new skirt?” 

“I am going to Paris.” 

“To Paris?” 

“Yes, Aunt Suzanne has written to the good pas- 
tor to tell our mother that she is to send me down 
there to them, and that they will take care of me for 
four years.” 

“Ah! Marguerite, would you like that I should 
give you some white bread ? Ah ! it is good white 
bread. Wait, I am going to bring you some of it.” 

Upon this, the young boy drew from a bag, all 
covered with soot, a small loaf, bought by him the 
same morning for a few pennies ; he gave it to his 
sister, who accepted it with eagerness, and eat it im- 
mediately. 

“ Ah ! Nicolas, would you like some bread made 
by the mother?” 

16 


186 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


“ What, made by the mother !” replied the brother, 
transported with joy; “give it to me quickly.” 

Marguerite drew from her wallet a piece of bread 
as black as the chimney that ISTicolas had swept the 
day before. 

“ Here,” said she, “ eat it ; it was the mother who 
made it.” 

The young boy threw himself down, and devoured 
it with delight, saying over several times : “ It is 
the mother who has made it.” And I saw distinctly 
great tears roll down his fat cheeks, and fall upon 
the piece of black bread; these tears were certainly 
not bitter. 

The efforts that I was making to contain my emo- 
tion, made the discovery to the two little Savoyards 
of the presence of a stranger; they both looked at 
me smiling, as if they had perceived a friend. I 
took out of my purse all that it contained, four 
crowns and six livres, and I divided it between them. 
The two children embraced again and separated, 
Hicolas going towards the cottage home, and Mar- 
guerite away from it. I hope that Divine goodness 
will permit that they be reunited a little later under 
the maternal roof. 

This touching scene, so full of nature and pathos, 
far from cheering my heart, only opened all the 
wounds once more. These children just showed me, 
in a..most ingenious manner, how much the woman 
who gives us birth should be prized. Man may be 
betrayed by every one ; by a father, a brother, a sis- 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


187 


ter, a wife, a friend, while the mother alone remains 
faithful to him. 

The Queen Isabeau, of Bavaria, alone, has ob- 
tained a frightful celebrity for having offered to her 
century an example unknown until then, that of a 
mother working with zeal for the ruin of her son. 
Thank God, she was not a French woman. 




CHAPTER IX. 

THE YOUNG BARON BE RABASTEINS GOES TO TOULOUSE 
— CARDINAL DE RICHELIEU AND THE CAPTAIN ST. 
PREUIL. 



HE thought of retiring from the world 
preoccupied me without ceasing, and the 
affairs of the world every day wearied 
me. The necessity of filling certain for- 
malities relative to the succession of my mother, tore 
me away from the peaceful existence that I was lead- 
ing in the lovely Bugey. The knight Robert d’Es- 
couloubre, first cousin of Madame de Rabasteins, 
was declared my guardian, as my nearest relative; 
he was waiting for me at Monségur. I saw myself 
then obliged to abandon my vast hills to repair to 
this guardian. I imagined him a serious character 
on account of his age and his position. Our first 
interview prejudiced me against him in the highest 
degree. M. d’Escouloubre, who had then reached 
his ninth lustrum, affected the manners of a fashion- 


able young gentleman, with a graceful giddiness. 
He laughed outright when I expressed to him rather 




THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


189 


timidly the intention of embracing the monastic 
state. “This whim will pass away from you, niy 
dear cousin,” he repeated every moment. And the 
more he placed the realization of this design in 
doubt, the more I felt myself disposed to effect it. 

My guardian showed me very clearly that my 
presence at Toulouse had become necessary, since 
my interests were centred there. I could not avoid 
this severe command. 

Before my departure for Languedoc, I wished to 
go and present my respects to the Bishp of St. Paul, 
with the double aim of thanking him for his kind- 
ness, and proving to him that far from withdrawing 
from the determination of consecrating myself to 
God, I had decided more firmly than ever to pursue 
this project. The prelate appeared a little surprised 
at this persistency, and he commenced to contend 
with my intentions in an entirely different manner 
from that of Monségur. Monseigneur Lambert 
drew the most attractive picture of the happiness 
that the father of a family, exempt from reproach, 
tasted in the midst of his children; he exercised in 
this painting an eloquence most admirable, without 
doubt, but which did not move me. 

“I command you,” said he, in conclusion, “I 
command you, my child, to return to the city of 
Toulouse, where the best society will give you an 
eager reception ; this is among the proofs to which 
I wish you to submit before allowing you to engage 
in the holy vocation.” 


190 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


I left him penetrated with gratitude. 

In a few hours I passed from the hands of wisdom 
into those of folly. M. d’Escouloubre made me des- 
perate with his airs of levity. He said only three or 
four words touching upon the irreparable loss which 
had reduced me to the condition of an orphan, with- 
out seeking to know in what place the ashes of my 
dear mother rested. It may well be imagined that 
I went frequently to pray at this tomb. A very 
detestable folly finished by irritating me against this 
tutor, it was the tone of pity that he used in my re- 
gard ; laughing without ceasing at the manner in 
which I dressed, ridiculing strongly my great sim- 
plicity. 

At last we entered the travelling-carriage ; it was 
necessary to carry me to it, for I could not tear m^^- 
self away from my mother’s room, where such dear 
illusions still held me. I cannot express the painful 
sensations that I experienced during the whole jour- 
ney, at hearing the extraordinary discourse of M. 
d’Escouloubre, who did not cease to converse of the 
brilliant success that he obtained in Paris, where he 
had sojourned for many long years. If an unso- 
phisticated person would have been lost in the soci- 
ety of any one man, they certainly would have been 
in the society of my relation. Thank God, the ex- 
cess of ridicule served me as an antidote. The trials 
to which the Bishop of St. Paul Trois Châteaux had 
just submitted me, commenced by condemning me 
to hear the foolishness that my guardian uttered. I 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


191 


took a hatred to the world of which I saw so sad a 
sample. This journey contributed powerfully to de- 
termine my vocation. 

We arrived, towards the middle of August, 1747, 
at Toulouse, where I was very slightly acquainted. 
M. d’Escouloubre presented me to several families 
connected with ours; they gave me a good recep- 
tion, but no one spoke to me of my mother; all 
these people, occupied with their own pleasures, 
seemed ignorant that Madame de Kabasteins had 
ever existed ; and, to overwhelm me with misfortune, 
the etiquette of society obliged me to conceal the in- 
dignation which such a proceeding caused me. My 
guardian engaged himself to furnish me with a com- 
pensation for these troubles, since the flow of his 
gallant conversations stopped the same day of our 
arrival at the capital of Languedoc. I lodged in his 
house, where I scarcely saw him, and he interested 
himself but little with what became of his pupil. 

My mother had often spoken to me of a canon 
named M. Christol, who, at the commencement of 
his career, was occupied with the education of M. de 
Rabasteins. At the end of a few weeks, passed in 
the midst of elements so little in harmony with my 
ideas and my tastes, I thought of this clergyman. 
I went to look for him, and found in him a true 
friend, whom I never left again. 

M. Christol did in his way the honors of Tou- 
louse, that is to say, he showed me in detail the 
beautiful churches that this city contained, and 


192 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


chiefly that of St. Sernin, one of the most extraor- 
dinary basilicas in the kingdom, by reason of the 
particular style of its architecture. The examina- 
tion of the churches and chapels being finished, the 
canon directed my attention towards the monuments 
of civil construction with which the city abounded. 
Each street possessed some object worthy of fixing 
the attention of the traveller. ÎTearer and nearer 
we arrived to the capitol At this time, numerous 
workmen were occupied with ornamenting this an- 
tique palace with a new façade opening on the prin- 
cipal square. One of the keepers presented to my 
astonished sight the sword which was used to de- 
capitate the Duke of Montmorency, condemned in 
1632 for the crime of rebellion ; he kept it carefully 
shut up in a box. A rather serious discussion arose 
between this keeper and M. Christol, who dared to 
contest the authenticity of this strange relic. 

The canon, still heated with the quarrel, said to 
me on going out of the capitol : 

“M. de Rabasteins, if you like, I can take you 
this evening to the house of an old man, who knew 
your grandfather very well; on this account he will 
receive you very well. It is M. du Teil; he is blind, 
and has reached at this time his eighty-seventh year. 
In his family the men generally live to be one 
hundred years old; those whose career stops at 
eighty must be at fault themselves; they have con- 
ducted themselves ill, and have foolishly abused life. 
Not a lawyer in Toulouse possesses a mind as clear 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


193 


and bright as this old man, and it will give him ex- 
cessive pleasure to be able to rectify himself such a 
bold assertion. I desire to submit to him the mur- 
derous sword that they have just shown us.’’ 

The proposition of the canon was accepted with 
great enthusiasm, as I found an infinite charm in the 
recitals relating to the history of France, above all 
when the facts related were connected with a period 
bordering on ours. 

My presentation took place the same evening; 
M. du Teil received me delightfully, and recalled 
several circumstances relating to my family. He 
wore the costume of the old time, which my tutor 
would have regarded as very ridiculous. We found 
the master of the house surrounded by five or six 
guests. M. Christol submitted to him without delay 
the question of the short sword that we had seen at 
the Hôtel de Ville a few hours before. 

“The weapon that they showed you has not this 
origin,” replied M. du Teil ; “ the sword which the 
executioner used in 1632 to decapitate the Duke of 
Montmorency is no longer in existence. The city 
ofiicers ordered that it should be broken and de- 
stroyed, so that the sword which was steeped in such 
noble blood should never again be employed to cut 
off the days of some obscure criminal — this is the 
truth.” 

“ Your assertion,” replied the canon, “ is, for me, 
one of the most respectable authorities. Your age, 
the positions that you and your relations have always 
17 


194 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


filled in the city, enable you to know, better than any 
one, the events which have passed in our province 
during the last century ; thus the principal circum- 
stances of the grand drama which finishes with the 
punishment of the Duke of Montmorency should 
be perfectly well known to you.” 

The words of M. Christol became for the old man 
a challenge, to which he hastened to reply with a sort 
of modesty, extreme satisfaction shining on his yel- 
low and emaciated face. 

“I was born,” said M. du Teil, “on the 3d of June 
1660, the same day of the marriage of Louis the 
Fourteenth, and my father was born in the last 
month of the reign of Henry IV. One of my great- 
uncles was made city ofiicer in 1632 ; the duties of 
his position forced him to remain, with the other 
magistrates, at the foot of the scaftbld until the end 
of the execution of the Duke de Montmorency. It 
took place in the little interior court of the capitol. 
I have from this great-uncle many more interesting 
particulars than the official historians deign to con- 
sign to their recitals. As you find very few events 
of this kind in Dom Vaisette,* our celebrated annal- 
ist, I will commence b}^ speaking of a personage 
whose name is given by the learned Benedictine 
with the least detail accompanying it, and yet it is 
worth much. 

“Among the officers of the troops of Louis XIII, 


* Title of honor of certain monastic orders. 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


195 


was distinguished a captain of the guards, by the 
name of St. Preuil, a man of an heroic courage 
and extreme boldness. Having passed all his life 
fighting principally in Italy, he was but slightly ac- 
quainted with the generals who were not stationed 
in Piedmont or Lombardy. The King of France 
decided to push hostilities vigorously against the 
Duke of Savoy, and led the army in person, in the 
spring of 1630. Savoy was invaded, and two divis- 
ions, commanded, one by the Duke de Montmorency, 
and the other by the Marquis d’Effiat, received 
orders to rejoin the body of the army, which was 
engaged at the entrance to Piedmont, under the 
command of Marshal de La Force. Captain St. 
Preuil was one of this latter bod 3 ^ The three 
generals united and gave battle to Prince Thomas 
of Savoy, in a hard combat near Veillane. St. 
Preuil, engaged in the struggle more in advance 
than any other, according to his -custom, was not 
long before he was placed in very great danger; he 
sustained for some time an attack made b}^ four 
knights united against him, his sword was broken, 
he was about to perish, when an officer of veiy high 
rank broke the circle formed around St. Preuil, 
killed two knights, and released the captain, then 
sprang to the other side to continue the contest. In 
a few moments some squads of soldiers separated 
St. Preuil from his liberator, without his being 
able to discover either the name or the rank of the 
officer to whom he owed his life. The captain re- 


196 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


marked, however, a very handsome figure, still 
young, but who was totally unknown to him. 

“ The battle having terminated to the advantage of 
the French, each division took up respectable quar- 
ters, and the next day the army disbanded, and St. 
Preuil had not time to discover the great chief who 
had released him the evening before from the hands 
of the enemy. The following month, peace termi- 
nated the hostilities, the two bodies of the army of 
the Duke de Montmorency and the Marquis d’Efliat 
returned to France, and the four divisions that the 
Marshal de La Force commanded remained on the 
top of the mountains, so as to occupy a part of the 
country. They were recalled two years later on 
account of the revolt of the Duke de Montmorency. 
The Marshal de La Force received orders to enter 
Languedoc immediately through the Dauphiné, while 
the King and Cardinal de Richelieu went through 
Lyons. The Marshal de La Force, connected by 
some relationship to the family of Montmorency, 

. withdrew from this painful mission. The pretext 
that he made use of, was that the fatigues of battle 
prevented him from taking the command, which 
passed into the hands of Marshal de Shomberg, a 
stranger. He accepted it with eagerness, not doubt- 
ing that this war would furnish him with an occa- 
sion to make his fortune. St. Preuil and his com- 
pany passed then under his orders. 

“Schomberg led the expedition skilfully, and suc- 
ceeded in chasing away the Duke de Montmorency 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


197 


from the strongholds which would have served him 
as places of shelter. On the 1st of September, 1632, 
was fought the battle of Castelnaudary. St. Preuil 
led with his company of cavalry two battalions of 
the King’s infantry, when a vigorous charge, di- 
rected by the Duke de Montmorency in person, 
overthrew the triple line of foot soldiers, and fell 
into the midst of the guard of St. Preuil. The 
Duke saw the handful of officers who accompanied 
him killed at his side, while he received a serious 
wound in the shoulder, the pain of which rendered 
it still more terrible; he cut through five ranks of 
this cavalry, but then he found himself surrounded; 
his horse was killed, and dragged him down in the 
fall, both rolling into a large ditch. At this moment 
a number of assailants threw themselves upon this 
rich prey, for every one knew that this bold cham- 
pion was the Duke of Montmorency. St. Preuil, 
the boldest of all, dispersed with his sword this herd 
of soldiers, and seized in his arms the body of the 
chief of the enemy, already very much weakened 
by his wounds. O, grief ! through the blood and 
dust that soiled the face of the noble vanquished 
one, the captain recognized the valiant warrior who, 
two years before, had released him at the peril of 
his life in the fields of Yeillane. Judge what must 
have been the despair of St. Preuil ! 

“Here is where I wished to come,” continued 
M. du Teil; “now we will speak of the illustrious 
rebel. The Duke de Montmorency had conciliated 


198 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


the affections of all the inhabitants of Languedoc by 
his kind manners, his justice, his benevolence, and, . 
above all, by his affability. At the homes of the 
great this is the best means of gaining their hearts. 

It was with fright, then, that they saw the governor 
of the province engaged in the cause of rebellion, 
and compromising such a beautiful life for the cause 
of so stupid and ungrateful a prince as Gaston, Duke 
of Orleans. They say of the brother of Louis XIII, 
that he would not be disturbed for one moment at 
the table while eating, not to save the life of the 
most devoted of his servants. 

“ The Duke de Montmorency saw himself con- 
strained to go out of Toulouse when the magistrates 
protested energetically against all acts of treason in 
regard to the King. The Governor, deceived in his 
hopes, repaired to the lower part of Languedoc, 
where his partisans appeared to be more numerous. 
Some small towns openly embraced his cause; but 
the larger cities closed their doors against the troops 
of Montmorency, manifesting, nevertheless, a very 
lively attachment to his person. The towns of 
Montpellier and Béziers signalized themselves by 
their fidelity. The piagistrates of the latter declared 
that they would not receive within their walls the 
enemies of the King. The inhabitants assembled 
on the ramparts, and contemplated with sadness the 
man whom they cherished the most, working for his 
downfall in such an inconsiderate manner. 

“The Duke, seeing himself repulsed by the mag- 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


199 


istrates of Béziers, resolved to cross the river Orbe, 
which flowed below this town, in order to ofler 
combat to Marshal de Schomberg, who held a post, 
with very few men, not far from Castelnaudary. 
Just at the moment when about to cross the river, 
near a mill, the Duke was stopped by one of those 
pythonesses of the lower class, that our country 
people call, in derision, ‘a witch.’ This woman, of 
a beautiful physiognomy and still young, announced 
to him, in a tone as if inspired, that if he crossed the 
Orbe death was awaiting him on the other side. 
M. de Montmorency, not paying much attention to 
this prediction, pursued his way smiling. Then this 
woman seized the bridle of his horse to stop him, and 
had recourse to tears and supplications to turn him 
aside from his design. The Governor, rather moved, 
got rid of her entreaties, and crossed notwithstanding. 
From the moment when the witch saw the Duke 
fording the river, she threw herself on her knees on 
the strand, raising her hands to heaven, and using an 
expression, of which the French language does not 
ofler another equal to it — pècaïré — a word of pity 
and deep interest. The Duke de Montmorency, who 
just then cast a glance behind him, was extremely 
touched by such testimonials of aflectioii from this 
poor creature. He had scarcely reached the opposite 
shore when fatality hurried him invincibly to his 
downfall. 

“ The prediction was then accomplished. The Duko 
de Montmorency, conquered and taken before Cas- 


200 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


telnaudary, was led to Toulouse under a formidable 
escort commanded by the Count de Charlus. Daring 
this journey, the old Governor of Languedoc believed 
that the severity of his wounds vrould hasten his 
death, and that he would thus escape at least the 
ignominy of perishing by the hands of the execu- 
tioner. The Parliament, where Châteauneuf, the 
keeper of the seals, presided, instituted his trial im- 
mediately. Louis XIII and Richelieu arrived in the 
meantime within our walls. From the time that the 
Duke de Montmorency was no longer to be feared, he 
became an object of commiseration. The love that 
they had had for him awakened more ardently than 
ever; the city was plunged in grief. The King could 
not take a step without the cry of pardon reaching his 
ears. The most powerful of the nobles tried in vain 
to move the monarch. Xeither the wife nor the 
sister of the prisoner could succeed in reaching the 
sovereign. This extreme rigor had been suggested 
to Louis Xin by Cardinal Richelieu. In order 
that he should not appear to influence his master 
on this occasion, the minister separated from him, 
and went to lodge in a house in the extreme suburbs 
of the city. He never went out once during the con- 
tinuation of the trial. 

‘‘However, the friends of the Duke de Montmo- 
rency employed every imaginable means to save 
him, by assuaging the anger of the King, or im- 
peding the procedure by some extraordinory ex- 
pedient. The old Duke d’Epernon came from his 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


201 


government of Gaienne with the intention of uniting 
his efforts with those of the other dignitaries of the 
state, and suggested an expedient which none of 
the others thought of. All the nobles of the court 
adopted it with enthusiasm. 

“According to the ancient laws of war, the person 
of the prisoner belonged by right to the soldier who 
had taken him in the midst of the combat. It was 
his property; the King even could not dispose of it. 
He acted, then, by invoking this principle in regard 
to the Duke de Montmorency, taken prisoner by 
St. Preuil. The latter almost died of joy when 
they came to appeal to his generosity. The Duke 
d’Epernon, whose name still preserved some prestige, 
took it upon himself to present the request to the 
King, in the name of the captain, and at the same 
time in the name of the entire army, who were in- 
terested in this question. Louis XIII appeared for 
one moment stunned by this demand, which rested 
on the most worthy traditions. The pardon could 
only open a most beautiful issue. The monarch, 
uncertain in his resolutions, wished that St. Preuil 
should submit his claim to his prime minister, who 
was better informed than himself of the laws and 
customs of the kingdom. 

“You can understand that the captain did not draw 
back from this mission. I ought to recall to your 
mind that which I said on this subject in the begin- 
ning. They should paint him as a warrior full of 
audacity, whom nothing could astonish, and who 


202 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


would take the sword in his hand for a word or a 
look. This captain, having constantly served on the 
other side of the mountains, had never found himself 
in the presence of the Cardinal, and smiled at the 
fear that the name alone of Richelieu caused the 
courtiers. ‘In short,’ said he, ‘it is only a priest;’ 
and nothing appeared in his eyes less formidable 
than a priest. 

“St. Preuil, full of determination, wound his way 
towards the dwelling of the Cardinal. A formal order 
forbade the entrance to any one, no matter who it 
might be. Besides, the minister suffered extremely 
with rheumatism. Nevertheless, as every one united 
in the wish for favor to the Duke de Montmorency, 
the strange visitor knew how to penetrate even into 
the sanctuary of the terrible divinity. He found 
Richelieu buried in a large easy chair, and enveloped 
in wraps. The sight of this miserable old man 
inspired him with compassion. He stationed him- 
self before him, one knee bent, his right hand resting 
on his hip, and the left resting on the hilt of his 
sword. 

“‘Eminence,’ said he, ‘I am the Captain St. 
Preuil. It is I who have had the high honor of 
taking prisoner the Marshal de Montmorency. His 
person belongs to me ; I come to claim it, and I 
think that they cannot put him to death without 
my consent.’ 

“Such were the terms of the request, at the end of 
which there was one moment of silence; then came 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


203 


forth from the centre of this large easy-chair, as from 
the depths of some cavern, a roar like that of a lion: 

Captain St. Preuil, attend to the management 
of your company, and take care that they do not put 
your head under your heels.’ 

“A flaming glance, which pierced through his 
heavy eyebrows, added still more to the terrible 
power of his formidable voice. 

“St. Preuil, surprised and terrified, gained the 
door backwards, descended the steps quickly, ran 
through the group of oflicers, who were waiting for 
him outside, without saying a word, and went in all 
haste to rejoin his squadron encamped upon the left 
bank of the Garonne. Since then, he has never ap- 
peared again in Toulouse. 

“ The crime of rebellion was evident; besides, the 
Duke de Montmorency confessed himself unworthy 
of the mercy of the King, therefore the issue of the 
verdict could not be doubted. The old Governor 
of Languedoc was declared guilty unanimously, in 
the midst of the sobs of the whole court; the sen- 
tence was carried by the Parliament, in a body, 
through the city, with the keeper of the seals at the 
head, escorted by a weeping multitude, and repaired 
to the episcopal palace where Louis XIII lodged. 
Châteauneuf, the keeper of the seals, who had taken 
the part of the King in the verdict which had just 
been pronounced, threw himself on his knees to ask, 
in the name of all the judges, a commutation of the 
penalty. 


204 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


Louis XIII generally showed great weakness in 
his private life ; but this prince resumed the dignity 
of the monarch when circumstances exacted it. He 
replied in a lirm voice : 

“ ‘ The welfare of the state exacts that on this 
occasion I should act as King, and not as a private 
individual. I refuse to grant the pardon that they 
ask.’ 

“ The scaffold was to have been erected on the 
square of the Salin, in front of the grand entrance 
to Parliament, but they were obliged to give up 
making the execution in this place, for such a 
tumult was manifested among the inhabitants, that 
the magistrates declared that they could not be re- 
sponsible for the public tranquillity, and they feared 
some sanguinary conflict between the people and 
the troops. It was decided, therefore, that this ter- 
rible event should take . place in the courtyard of 
the Hotel de Ville; they erected there a scaffold 
draped with black cloth. 

“ In the space of two months, which has elapsed 
between the capture of the Marshal and his con- 
demnation, the serious wounds that he had re- 
ceived in the combat of Castelnaudary healed in a 
most wonderful manner. Xever was one of heaven’s 
blessings received so badly. This rapid cure made 
the Duke desperate ; they feared on his part some 
temptation to commit suicide; his guard redoubled 
their care to watch over his slightest movements ; 
they also urged the precaution of serving his meat 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


205 


hashed, and his bread cut, so that the prisoner would 
want neither knife or fork. 

“ At last, on the 29th of October, 1632, the Duke 
de Montmorency was led from the prison of the 
Parliament to the capitol, through a thick crowd; 
for the peasants of the neighboring villages had as- 
sembled, attracted as much by compassion as curi- 
osity ; the population of Toulouse must certainly 
have been increased fivefold. Since morning the 
bells of all the churches tolled the funeral knell, 
which spread through the city, filling my great- 
uncle with a sadness, the gloom of which I think 
could never have been equalled. At this moment 
the houses remained perfectly empty, for half of the 
country people ran frightened to the public squares, 
and the others, more timid, especially the women, 
prayed at the foot of the altars for the salvation of 
the soul of M. de Montmorenc 3 \ In addition to 
which, he walked to the place of punishment mani- 
festing the most Christian sentiments. The Duke 
was always proud of displaying in his habits a pom- 
pous magnificence; he wished at the end of his life 
to atone for all such demonstrations of pride by an 
act of humility ; he therefore covered himself with 
a penitent’s sack, made of very coarse cloth. 

“ They led the criminal to the capitol in a sort of 
closed chariot. No noise or tumult surrounded the 
funeral procession, although they were obliged to 
w’ait there on account of the crowd of spectators. 
This people, so petulant by nature, observed a relig- 


206 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


ions silence: Many times sobs, suppressed for a long 
time, broke forth. The Duke, seated between two 
clergymen, showed himself very much touched by 
these testimonials of love. Suddenly, at the corner 
of a street which was very much obstructed, the 
guards were obliged to close their ranks, that some 
one was trying to break through, and from the midst 
of this dismayed crowd arose the cry of pècaïré, utter- 
ed in a trembling voice. At this word the Duke de 
Montmorency turned his head suddenly to that side, 
where he perceived through the halberts a woman 
who stretched out her arms to him. He saw her fall 
fainting; it was the witch of Béziers, whose counsels 
he had scorned two months before. 

“The gates of the Hôtel de Ville were not long in 
closing rudely on the procession. The Duke, in 
order to enter into the courtyard where they had 
erected the scaffold, was obliged to pass under an 
arcade in front of which was placed in a niche the 
statue of Henry lY, his godfather, who formerly 
used to like to call him his son. M. de Montmorency 
experienced, at the sight of this statue, a most pain- 
ful emotion. All the municipal officers, of whom 
my great-uncle was the youngest, were arranged 
upon one side of the scaffold. The Duke, having 
finished listening to the last exhortations of his con- 
fessor, mounted the fatal stage. In the presence of 
such a victim, the executioner felt his resolution give 
way. M. de Montmorency quickly perceived it, and 
said to him, ‘ Strike without fear.’ 

“ These words reassured the man ; one single blow 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


207 


sufficed to cut off this illustrious head. The blood 
sprang up violently and fell upon the wall. The 
people believe to this day that they can distinguish 
the marks left in this place by the blood of the Duke 
de Montmorency. The body was taken to the church 
of St. Sernin. The surgeons who were appointed to 
embalm it, drew out five balls. The mortal remains 
were taken to Moulins. The Princess des Ursins, 
widow of the Marshal, received them, and caused a 
superb mausoleum* to be erected to the memory of 
her husband in the chapel of the convent to which 
she had retired. 

“ The people, who were very superstitious,” con- 
tinued M. du Teil, “did not fail to attribute to the 
punishment of the Duke de Montmorency the fright- 
ful disasters caused, in the following month, by the 
overflow of the Tarn, the Aude, and the Garonne. 
Another circumstance again struck their minds. The 
Marshal de Scdiomberg, the conqueror of Castel- 
naudary, died suddenly from a violent fit of gout, 
fifteen days after the execution of the Duke de Mont- 
morenc}', to whom he had succeeded in the govern- 
ment of Languedoc.” 

* This mausoleum, as precious to history as to art, exists still in 
the chapel of the royal college of Moulins. They were about to 
destroy it in 1793 ; a furious mob wished to demolish it. One of the 
magistrates, running to the scene of action, had the presence of 
mind to tell them that Montmorency had been in his time a good 
republican, and that the tyrant Louis XIII had beheaded him. 
This observation sufficed to stop the arms of these men, and the 
monument was saved. It has preserved, nevertheless, the mark 
of the one stroke of the axe that they gave it. 



CHAPTER X. 

THE YOUNG BARON BE RABASTEINS GOES TO PARIS — 
SINGULAR MEETING — SOCIETY OF PARLIAMENTA- 
RIANS. 



0 one was ignorant that I possessed a very 
fine fortune, in consequence of which I 
became an object of covetousness to cer- 
tain fathers of families, who aspired to 
call me their son-in-law. I understood how they 
made, in touching upon my projected marriage, such 
low and such ignoble calculations, and my heart ex- 
perienced great disgust. Desiring* to avoid the in- 
cessant persecutions of the fashionable world, I left 
Languedoc, in the middle of April, 1749, and I only 
regretted in Toulouse the historical conversations of 
M. du Pac. It took me an entire week to reach 
Monsegur. Who would believe it ? I saw again 
with a sort of joy the places where the misfortunes 
were accomplished which would destroy the rest of 
my life. I ran to the tomb of my mother, and I 
prayed there for a long time; then I went to visit my 
dungeon : some very skilful workmen had trans- 
formed it into an elegant chapel. 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


209 


The marble under which the remains of Mdlle. 
Lucie de Pracontal reposed bore the inscription, 
^‘deceased the 28^A of June, 1715,’’ instead of the 25th. 
They had transcribed there, by the order of her 
mother, the lines that the young girl had traced on 
the ebony cover : 

“ 0 unfortunate one! whom fatality has 'plunged living 
into this abyss, raise your soul to God; ask of him par- 
don for your faults. Resign yourself to the sacrifice oj 
life ; you will never leave this tomb /” 

I could not avoid starting on reading again these 
lines;' had I not looked at them during some hours 
as a sentence of death ? Some arched windows 
opened on the side where the two dormer windows 
had formerly lighted my prison, and a very light 
door replaced the terrible barrier against which my 
strength had been vainly exhausted. 

On going out of the chapel, I made an excursion 
to the house of Peter Dufour, who had become the 
proprietor of a small house at the extreme end of the 
town. I found all the family united. The sergeant 
of the regiment of Beauce received me with martial 
honors. There reigned in this dwelling the most 
admirable order; the furniture, was simple, but 
bright with cleanliness. His. wife and children 
pressed around me, most joyful to see me again ; 
their emotion prevented them from expressing them- 
selves; nevertheless, all their glances were turned 
towards me, and seemed to say : “ We owe this hap- 
piness to you.” If the old dragoon of Chevert had 
18 


210 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


read Yirgil, he would most assuredly have placed 
above his door : 

‘‘ 0 Melibœe! Deus nobis hcec oiia feciC^ 

The testimonials of gratitude that these good people 
showed me with emotion affected me to tears. 

The journey from Toulouse had brought some di- 
version to the deep melancholy which filled every 
moment of my days. This continual sadness appeared 
to increase after my return to St. Pierre. Some 
sinister ideas pursued me without ceasing. It seemed 
that my conscience reproached me for not having 
embraced the monastic life, as I had made a solemn 
vow to do so upon the tomb of my mother. Gov- 
erned by these thoughts, I went to St. Paul Trois 
Châteaux, to the Bishop, who received me as a tender 
father would receive his son after a long absence; he 
guessed, on seeing me, the state of my heart, and 
spared nothing to combat my projects of retreat. I was 
forced to tell him, on my part, that the severe trials 
at Toulouse had increased still more my detach- 
ment from the world. The prelate opposed me by 
some reasonings that surprised me by their justice. 

In short,’’ said he to me, “ I have resolved, my 
child, to make you pass through one trial more ter- 
rible than all the others, but I will add that this will 
be the last; if you persist then in your resolution, I 
will no longer oppose it. You must visit Paris, the 
capital of France, where virtue jostles with vice, 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


211 


where one may very easily be lost, but where you 
may also attend very well to your salvation.” 

To Paris! This word cast fear into my soul. M. 
Lambert reassured me, and succeeded in conquering 
my resistance ; he gave me a letter to one of the 
priests of that large city. On my part, I asked my 
tutor for some letters of introduction to M. de Bauche, 
counsellor to Parliament, whose family was under 
some obligations to the Escouloubre family. On the 
occasion of this demand I ran a great danger, my 
guardian taking it into his head to accompany me ; 
happily for me the attraction of gayeties detained 
him in Toulouse. It having been announced that the 
Marshal de Maillebois, the new governor of Lan- 
guedoc, proposed giving some magnificent enter- 
tainments, could the interests of a pupil enter the 
balance with such serious considerations? 

I resolved to undertake, this time, my journey 
alone, without seeking to join any companions ; 
nothing suited ray condition better than such a com- 
plete isolation. Some business matters of much 
interest, some steps to take touching the manage- 
ment of my estate, prevented me from setting out 
as soon as I desired. I was not, therefore, able to 
reach Paris until the last days of July, 1749. I had 
conceived the idea that I should only see in this city 
marble palaces, streets laid out by rule, and paved 
with broad, beautiful flags like those in the churches; 
what was my astonishment on beholding only nar- 
row, crooked streets, of an inexpressible filth? I 


212 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


arrived by the way of the Bourbonnais, and I had to 
pass through the most smoky outskirts; that which 
surprised me still more was the noise produced by 
the rolling of the carriages, joined to the cries that 
the strolling venders uttered. These good people 
screamed themselves hoarse to sell objects of the 
slightest value. 

I gave the postilion permission to lead me wherever 
he thought best. I intended to pass a few days in a 
hotel, and then to rent a private lodging. At last I 
established my settled domicile at the end of St.‘ 
Louis Street, very near the Royal Square. I knew 
that quiet society lived in the Marais ; this suited 
me much better, as I came to Paris as a pilgrim, 
and not to give myself up to pleasure and dissipa- 
tion. At the end of a week’s residence in this place, 
I learned that th-ey were preparing for a ceremony 
worthy of attracting my curiosity and interesting my 
heart; we were drawing near to the 15th of August, 
a day rendered doubly solemn by the vow of Louis 
XIII. The King, his family, and the courts of justice 
were to repair to the church of Kotre Dame to hear 
grand mass, which was to be said by the Archbishop 
of Paris. I believed that it would be best to use 
the precaution of going to church before nine o’clock : 
what was my astonishment at finding the entrance 
to the metropolis obstructed with people — an. eager 
crowd covered the bridges and quays. They did 
not leave me in ignorance that on such an occasion 
the Parisians were standing from break of day in 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


213 


order to secure good places on the line that the royal 
procession was to pass through ; it was then impos- 
sible for me to make my way through. However, 
some obliging persons pointed out to me the streets 
that the Parliament was to pass through on coming 
from the palace. 1 ran to post myself at the foot of 
the bridge of St. Michael, and, after waiting for a 
half-hour, I saw slowly advancing all the members 
of Parliament in red robes, headed by President 
Maupeon ; these magistrates, of whom several were 
bowed down under the weight of age, came on foot 
and bareheaded ; the Exchequer and the President, 
M. de Nicolai, followed at a short distance from the 
Parliament ; no soldiers, and not a single halbert 
was used in the escort of these sovereign courts; 
only the mace-bearers, who preceded the procession, 
repeated at intervals, “Make way for the gentlemen 
of the Parliament.” The people uncovered them- 
selves in respect while these venerable personages 
were passing, and suspended their cries and vocif- 
erations. 

Convinced that my efforts to reach Nôtre Dame 
would be useless, I took, in great haste, the road to 
the church of St. Paul, and I arrived just in time 
to hear the solemn mass of August the 15th. 

I proposed to allow several months to elapse be- 
fore presenting my letters of introduction, so as to 
enjoy entire liberty. I looked upon it as quite ex- 
citing to live totally unknown in the midst of a vast 
population; I took delight in this thought. One 


214 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


morning I was going up the street St. Antoine, 
through a multitude of busy people ; I was saying 
to myself thus : “.In the bosom of the capital of my 
country, in a city peopled with a million of inhabit- 
ants, not a single individual, great or weak, knows 
me; the cost of civility would be a. pure loss.” 

Scarcely had I pronounced these words than a little 
chimney-sweep, crying in a loud voice, “ From top 
to bottom,” stopped before me, took off his woollen 
cap, and clapped his hands with pleasure ; the live- 
liest emotion was pictured on his face, smutty with 
soot. 

“Sir, sir,” repeated he, throwing up his arms and 
legs, “I am I^icolas.” 

It was ISTicolas, that I had met in Bugey. I should 
never have recognized him under this garb; but 
gratitude had engraven my features in his memory. 

We commenced to chat in the midst of the people 
passing to and fro. 

“Have you forgotten,” said I to the sweep, “to 
say your prayers morning and evening, and to take 
off your cap when passing before the door of a 
church?” 

“I have never failed to do so, sir.” 

“And Marguerite, where is she?” 

“She is at the house of Aunt Suzanne, who has 
taken us both, and we are working for ourselves.” 

“Take me immediately to Aunt Suzanne.” 

îlicolas was already well acquainted with Paris. 
He took me through the most frightful and infamous 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


215 


streets. I should have sooner believed myself to be 
in the midst of a small market-town in Bulgaria 
than in the capital of the most Christian kingdom. 
We passed through a street filled entirely with deal- 
ers in old rags, which were spread out before the 
doors. There exhaled from this collection of filthy 
rags an unparalleled odor; it sickened me. 

After numerous turns, we found ourselves near a 
square, that of the Innocents, and at the bottom of a 
lane we discovered Aunt Suzanne, as smutty with soot 
as Nicolas; she was selling coals. I questioned her 
immediately about her nephew; her testimony was 
the most favorable; however, Suzanne shook her 
head, and said to me privately: 

“He is a good boy, I can say nothing to the con- 
trary; honest, obedient, never using any bad words, 
and always filled with the fear of G-od; but with all 
that I do not believe that he will ever establish him- 
self; he is a little proud boaster, who never picks up 
anything; who wishes to put on his best every Sun- 
day, more or less, and he wears shoes even in the 
middle of summer.’’ 

“Ah! well,” said I to her, “that will not prevent 
me from taking him into my service, if you will con- 
sent to it.” 

Suzanne placed no obstacles in the way, and Nicolas 
was invited to come to my house the next day, with, 
the dirt all cleaned off and dressed in his best. 
When at the end of a week Suzanne contemplated 
her nephew dressed in an overcoat of blue cloth, and 


216 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


wearing a hat, and shoes and stockings, she was 
breathless with surprise. Nicolas served me very 
faithfully, and only left me at the door of this mon- 
astery. 

I had resolved not to present myself to those per- 
sons to whom I had brought letters of introduction 
before having enjoyed a little of the air of Paris, in 
order to appear less provincial. My misfortunes had 
increased my natural timidity. Believing myself to 
be sufficiently reassured to approach a counsellor of 
Parliament in Paris, I went to take the letter of -M. 
d’Escouloubre to M. de Bauche, who lived in a 
beautiful hotel in Boncherat Street, in the quarter 
of the Temple. The counsellor received me with 
a ceremonious, but very attentive politeness; he told 
me of the obligations that his family were under to 
my relations; a very considerable debt resting on 
some estates situated in Languedoc would have 
been lost to M. de Bauche without the good offices of 
M. d’Escouloubre, one of the oldest members of 
the Parliament of Toulouse, and father of my guar- 
dian. The counsellor made me all sorts of offers of 
attention, and announced to me that his house was 
open to me like that of a relation, warning me, how- 
ever, that his society was composed exclusively of 
very grave persons — magistrates, who were strangers 
through duty to the pleasures and customs of the 
elegant world. 

“Such a reunion,’’ said M. de Bauche to me, 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


217 


“will offer little attraction to a young man like 
yourself.’’ 

“That is precisely,” replied I to him, “the society 
that I have always sought for, and I have never fre- 
quented any other in Toulouse.” 

To my great satisfaction, M. de Bauche did not 
say to me one word of my sad adventures; he ap- 
peared to ignore them completely. This diminished 
the embarrassment that I had experienced on pre- 
senting myself before him. 

On the Tuesdays of every week, thirty or forty 
counsellors of Parliament reunited, in the evening, 
at the house of M. de Bauche. I was invited to 
meet them. I accepted eagerly I was about to hear 
again some recitals alike, in interest, to those of M. 
du Pac. They regarded as the most industrious of 
this reunion. Messieurs de Tuboeuf, de Gourges, de 
Murard, de Boneuil, de Chauvelin, de Koblet, de 
Louvancourt, de Salaberry, de la Prade, de Maus- 
sion, Goislard, de Montsabert, but the oracle of this 
society was M. Gilbert des Voisins, president of the 
upper house. A religious silence reigned through- 
oift when he commenced to speak. All breathed of 
great gravity and seriousness in this drawing-room. 
Women appeared there rarely, and you only saw 
one table of backgammon, and no cards. These 
manners and customs diftered from those of Tou- 
louse, where the old men as well as the young people 
were carried away by the love of play. Here, the 
three hours that we spent at the house of M. de 
19 


218 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


Bauche were passed in general conversation : each 
one took part in it according to his own inclination. 
For ray own part, these conversations had a powerful 
interest. One thing astonished me, nevertheless: it 
was the sort of jealousy that all these counsellors of 
the Parliament showed in regard to the nobility of 
the sword. I should never have imagined that they 
would have dared to vilify with so much bitterness 
the court, the nobility, and the ministers. Messieurs 
de Chauvelin and Goislard surpassed all others in 
their violence. One only, M. de Salaherry, showed 
sufficient determination to defend those persons 
placed in power. He replied to the transports oi 
violence of his colleagues by some very witty sallies. 

Anxious to show some eagerness, I presented my- 
self at the house of M. de Bauche the first Tuesday 
of the month of February, 1750. On entering the 
drawing-room, I experienced a certain fear. I im- 
agined that they were going immediately to question 
me upon the subject of my adventure at Monségur, 
but chance served me better than the wisest precau- 
tions. The master of the house knowing me to be 
the pupil of M. d’Escouloubre, imagined that I was 
his nephew, and he commenced to call me by the 
name of my tutor. I took care not to undeceive 
him, and thanks to this slight confusion of names I 
saw myself sheltered from indiscreet questions. 

The whole house seemed to be represented on this 
evening of the 3d of February. Messieurs de Tu- 
bœuf and de Louvancourt, the two oldest members 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


219 


of the reunion, commenced to speak of the corrup- 
tion of the century, assuring them that the past cen- 
tury was much better. M. Gilbert took up the 
conversation, and said : 

“I ask your pardon if I do not share your senti- 
ments in this regard. The eighteenth century mer- 
its much. I will engage that the following century 
will not be better than ours. Gentlemen, two years 
ago the keeper of the seals made out a report for the 
King, which was very honorable for the period in 
which we live. In the space of one year, the courts 
of justice in the united kingdom had only applied 
the penalty of death three times. Ko other nation 
in Europe will be able to furnish in its judiciary 
annals such an example.” 

M. de Louvancourt replied : “ I render homage 
like you, Mr. President, to this unquestionable proof; 
but one century may be very corrupt, and not be 
bloodthirsty. Pardon the expression.” 

M. Gilbert replied in these terms: “ You speak of 
the corruption of manners, corruption of the integ- 
rity of private individuals. Ah, well! I do not ad- 
mit that you are wrong in this regard. I might be 
able on my part to cite numerous examples of virtue. 
And every one of you, gentlemen, are you not 
equally in a position to signalize some praiseworthy 
actions known only to yourselves? From this re- 
union of facts what may not be deduced from the 
favorable results of my system? 

“ The corruption of the great should not make 


• 220 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


you prejudge the morality of the rest of the nation. 
I am going to relate to you, if you will permit me, 
an action of magnificent disinterestedness which 
took place in the midst of the regency, a period sig- 
nalized by the greatest depravity. This occurred just 
at the time that I entered Parliament. M. Leblanc 
was Minister of War in 1718. He passes for a man 
of great abilitj^, and some tradespeople have assured 
me that, since Louvois, no one had ever directed the 
administration of war with so much superiority. M. 
Leblanc sprang from an unknown family, and the 
vulgar name that he bore from his ancestors added 
still more to this inconvenience. The minister made 
gi-eat efforts to connect himself to some old family, 
so that he might possess something besides his posi- 
tion and wealth. A person who was charged with 
these researches came to announce to him that there 
existed, in a company of lifeguards of the King, 
one simple guardsman by the name of Leblanc, 
whose family enjoyed in Bourgogne a most distin- 
guished illustriousness. His father then filled the 
office of Mayor of the city of Beaune, and his rela- 
tions had filled the same office without interruption 
since the year 1300. 

“ M. Leblanc, charmed with this discovery, gath- 
ered all information immediately about his name- 
sake. The official reports told him that this guards- 
man was one of the best men in the company, and 
that he enjoyed the esteem of all his chiefs. The 
minister called this officer, and received him at his 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


221 


hotel in the midst of the splendors of his elevated 
position; there he questioned him upon his family, 
upon his origin, and sought to establish some con- 
nection between this one and his own, not forgetting 
to make him feel in a roundabout manner the advan- 
tages that a lifeguardsman might draw from a rela- 
tionship with the Minister of War. The officer re- 
ceived these advances very politely, but not as he 
hoped he would. M. Leblanc begged him to refer it 
to his father, who was better acquainted, without 
doubt, with the several alliances of his family. The 
father replied in the same terms as his son, by de- 
claring that ‘‘ his race was always perpetuated in n 
direct line, and that as for relations, he knew only 
his three children. The powerful Minister of War 
could not make the simple citizen recognize him; 
which fact, however, did not prevent him from mar- 
rying his daughter to one of the great names of the 
court, Colbert, whose flatterers raised him by their 
private authority to a Caledonian prince, descended 
from the ancient kings of Scotland. The truth is, 
that the great minister of Louis XIY descended from 
an honest cloth draper from Kheims, and by means 
of the immense fortune that Colbert was to leave 
after him, he married his daughters to three dukes, 
and the most illustrious of peers. 

“Permit me, gentlemen,” continued President 
Gilbert, “ to finish my speech by one simple observa- 
tion. When man is advancing towards the evening 
of his life, he exalts the past at the expense of the 


222 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


present. Do you know what it is that inspires him 
with these eternal complaints ? It is the regret that 
he is no longer young. It often happens with me 
that I think the fruit from my garden has less taste, 
less flavor than the fruit from the orchard 'of my 
father; it is that years have blunted all my senses. 
We have from Malherbe, besides his poems, a col- 
lection of very cYirious letters ; the latter were writ- 
ten during the life of Louis XIII. The old man de- 
nounced the present, and could not find terms suffi- 
ciently flowery to paint the happiness that human 
beings enjoyed during the period of his youth ; but, 
his youth was passed under the reigns of Francis 
the Second, Charles IX, and of Henry III; a for- 
tunate time, when the most inoffensive man ran the 
risk of receiving at each turn of the street, an ar- 
quebusade through his back.” 

M. de Boneuil then said; “I coincide entirely 
with your views, M. President Gilbert. We find 
ourselves in a quarter of Paris which has pre- 
served a regularity of ancient manners. The Marais, 
the Place Koyale, and the Temple, are most assur- 
edly furnished with good houses. I would engage 
that you could with difficulty find there one woman 
who frequents the theatres. Gentlemen, the clergy- 
men complain of the coldness of their parishioners. 
I think they are wrong. Eeligion has never been 
more honored ; the temples are filled with the faith- 
ful.” 

. I dared, at this moment, to raise my voice in tes- 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


223 


timony of how much I had been edified with the 
devotion of the people, who were gathered together 
in such large numbers in the holy places. 

“I went, day before yesterday,’’ said I, “to St. 
Sulpice, with the double intention of hearing ves- 
pers, and visiting the most modern, and one of the 
largest, churches in Paris. I was surprised to see so 
many people at the services. They drew my attention 
to the old priest, who was passing through the nave 
of the church, leaning on the arm of another priest, 
as though he was worn out.” 

“ Consequently this old priest has not been able to 
rob you of anything,” said M. de Chauvelin, who 
had not yet said a word. 

“ Rob me ! ” exclaimed I. 

“ This calls for an explanation, for the gentleman 
is a stranger,” very quickly replied President Gilbert 
des Voisins, “and we must not allow an inhabitant 
of Toulouse to return to his home with the idea that 
the priests of Paris are robbers. Here, I will give 
you that which gave rise to the jest of M. de Chau- 
velin. 

“ They commenced in 1642 building the Church of 
St. Sulpice, where you heard vespers, sir, last Sun- 
day The work was abandoned thirty years after, 
for want of funds to continue it; the services were 
said, nevertheless, in an old chapel which was used 
for the parish. This chapel had become insufficient 
for the wants of a quarter of the city, whose popula- 
tion increased each day in a most extraordinary 


224 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


manner. Father Languet, the old man that you saw, 
who was so infirm, was made pastor in 1714, and he 
resolved to undertake the building of his new 
church, and to spare nothing, in order to complete 
this immense work, and he has had the happiness of 
accomplishing his aim, for the dedication took place 
five years ago. 

“Father Languet consecrated to this enterprise all 
his patrimony, a rich inheritance that was left to him 
by one of his uncles, and still more the incomes of 
the Abbey of Bernay, of which he was the commen- 
datory abbot; nevertheless, all these united means 
proved still very insufficient. The indefatigable 
priest went to beg from door to door. According to 
the reports of certain persons, he was in the habit of 
carrying away with him the silver spoons at the end 
of the dinner, to which he had been invited, at the 
same time informing the master of the house of it, 
as you may well imagine. The truth is, that he did 
this once at the house of Madame Villarceaux. One 
act alone of this kind gave rise to the public report 
that Father Languet was accustomed to do this 
wherever he dined, which is positively false.” 

“I am persuaded of that as well as you,” replied 
M. de Chauvelin. “ However, Father Languet made 
himself sometimes very troublesome: our family 
know it by experience. One day, after dinner, he 
knocked at our door; my father was absent, and he 
was received by one of my aunts in the study of the 
master of the house. The good father cast his eyes 


THE MySTERIOüS CASTLE. 


225 


upon a beautiful silver goblet that stood on the ledge 
of the bookcase; m3" father had received it from his 
godmother, and attached to it great value. Father 
Languet carried it off without anj^ more ceremonj", 
joking about the affair, while the good aunt en- 
couraged him in it, charmed, as she said, to con- 
tribute to a pious work. As soon as my father re- 
turned to the house, and was informed of the adven- 
ture, he ran to the priest, where he found himself 
compelled to redeem his goblet by tilling it with 
crowns, to the amount of six pounds.^’ 

. “It appears that you bore him some malice,” re- 
plied M. Gilbert des Voisins. 

“Here is, gentlemen, the best trick that Father 
Languet ever plaj-ed of this kind. I will relate it for 
M. d’ Escouloubre, who being a stranger, has never 
heard of this fact. He had had recourse, to provide 
for the great expenses of his church, to the King and 
all the princes; they all gave him more or less. The 
Duke of Orleans, the son of the Regent, showed him- 
self very generous in this regard. One prince alone 
had contributed nothing to the erection of St. Sul- 
pice. Avarice prevented him from giving anything, 
but the difficulty of approaching him at an opportune 
time appeared to be the true obstacle. This eminent 
personage was the Prince of Conti, who never went 
out of his residence of ITlle Adam. The priest went 
to find him there, explained to him his wants, furnish- 
ing him, at the same time, the proofs of the liberali- 
ties of the King and the princes of his faniil}". He 


226 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


implored him to imitate such a uoble example by 
contributing to the erection of his church by means 
of some sort of gift. The prince half resisted. Father 
Languet said to him: ‘My lord, the Duke of Pen- 
thievre has given me the main altar; the Duke of 
Orleans wishes to pay for the three bells; be generous 
enough to charge yourself with the locks of the 
doors.’ 

“ ‘ The locks of the doors !’ asked the prince; ‘ and 
how many doors are there?’ 

“‘A score inside, and as many outside.’ 

“After a few moments’ reflection, the Prince of 
Conti expressed himself in these terms: ‘Since you 
ask it so earnestly, I will pay the bill for the locks; 
but that must be all, and on one condition, that I 
am taxed no more.’ 

“ Father Languet took out of his pocket a writing 
prepared beforehand, and drawn up as follows : ‘ I 
promise to pay the amount of all the locks of the 
Church of St. Sulpice, of which the pastor has di- 
rected the building for so long a time, and this on 
his application. Dated .’ 

“ The Prince de Conti signed the writing, having 
carefully examined it beforehand. 

“ Ten years after, the note was presented to him, 
and the large S, in the word serrures'^ having been 
erased, and replaced by the letter F, it was then the 
ferrures^ and not the serrures for which the Prince of 


* Serrures — locks. 


f Ferrures — iron work. 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


227 


Conti was to pay; and this light stroke of the pen 
raised the bill to a considerable sum, several hundred 
thousand francs. The pastor had taken the precau- 
tion, some days before the presentation of this bill, 
to inform the King privately of this little fraud. 
Louis XV laughed until the tears ran down his 
cheeks, and appeared to be in the plot when the 
Prince de Conti spoke to him of it as of a wilful 
injury ; so that the Prince, overwhelmed with the 
jests of all the members of the royal family, found 
himself obliged to honor his signature. 

“ People generally,” continued M. Gilbert des Voi- 
sins, “ only knew Father Languet through some very 
spicy anecdotes relative to the collections made by 
him for the interest of his church. This venerable 
pastor merits many other titles in public esteem. He 
is worthy, I do not fear to say it, to be placed at the 
side of Saint Vincent de Paul, for his charity. They 
could not count the number of unfortunate ones 
whose misery he relieved, or the many secret alms 
distributed by him from his house on every side. 
Then, his hand dispensed them with a pious discern- 
ment. Father Languet has several times spent a 
million a year in charity. When the plague broke 
out in Marseilles, thirty years ago, the Kegent and 
his ministers, too much occupied with the disasters 
occasioned by the system of law, made no effort to 
assist one of the principal cities in the kingdom, that 
his absence from seemed to render of little interest 
in their eyes. Father Languet, only a private indi- 


228 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


vidua! , guided by Christian charity, supplied its 
wants. He sent to Marseilles very considerable sums 
of money, and few at the time were aware of the 
fact. I have gathered these details from M. de Bel- 
zance himself, the Bishop of Marseilles. Our King 
having arrived at the age when a prince can appre- 
ciate good actions, was amazed on hearing of the 
conduct of the pastor of Saint Sul pice in regard to 
the people of Marseilles; he wished to reward him 
for it by making him bishop. Father Languet has 
always refused the mitre, in the most modest manner. 
The King, knowing the good use that this priest made 
of his money, gave him the Abbey of Bernay, whose 
income he raised to fifteen thousand pounds^” 

The departure of M. Grilbert des Voisins inter- 
rupted the course of general conversation, of which 
he was . always the centre. Several groups were 
forming. I went from one to the other. On ap- 
proaching the one where I found M. de Salaberry, I 
heard the name of Mdlle. de Pracontal mentioned. 
Curiosity made me lend an attentive ear. I experi- 
enced one of those very violent palpitation^ of the 
heart, to which I had been subject for many years. 
They related my own history, changing it in the most 
singular manner: they made me the husband of 
Lucie, and the narrator, a very grave and serious 
man, by reason of his age and condition in life, 
added to this sorrowful drama some incidents, ad 
libitum^ and of which I had not the slightest idea. 
1 have already said that the name of Escouloubre, 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


229 


with which the master of the house honored me, 
created a confusion, bj which I profited in this cir- 
cumstance. I must confess that my sojourn in Paris 
had brought up to this moment some diversion to 
my sad thoughts; one word sufficed to plunge mp 
again completely in the dungeon at Monségur. I 
became solitary and alone in the middle of this 
drawing-room ; everything around me disappeared 
before my eyes ; my position presented itself to me 
more terrible than it was in reality. “It must be,” 
said I, “ that my misfortunes are of a very strange 
nature, since public renown follows me everywhere. 
I frequent only one house in Paris, and the noise of 
my frightful adventure has not been long in reach- 
ing there; its echo has just struck my ears without 
my being. able to escape from it.” 

I remained immovable, my arms crossed upon my 
breast, and my eyes fixed upon a door, which had 
remained closed until this moment; suddenly, I 
heard the key turn in the lock with a grating noise, 
like that which the hand of my mother produced 
when she was entering her chamber: this similarity 
was wonderful. The door half opened ; a woman’s 
hand appeared slowly; my heart beat still more vio- 
lently. My mother, might she still be living ? Had 
they drawn me into this house to restore her to me? 
My imagination rose gradually. At last the door 
opened entirely, and I saw an aged and half-blind 
woman appear, who advanced, feeling her way like 
Madame de Kabasteins : it was the sister of M. 


230 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


de Bauche, who only entered the drawing-room 
towards the end of the evening. They hastened to 
lead her to an easy chair near the fire-place. I 
profited by the passing confusion caused by the un- 
expected presence of this lady to gain the ante- 
chamber, then the stairs, and, when I found myself 
in the open air, and in the street, I imagined that I 
had come out of a furnace. 





CHAPTER XL 

FATHER GUERET, THE PASTOR OF ST. PAUL — PROJECT 
OF MARRIAGE — THE LAMENTABLE END OF THESE 
PROJECTS. 

incident that happened during the 
evening that I passed at the house of M. 
1^ de Bauche plunged me once more into 
the deep melancholy with which I had 
been possessed ever since the fatal adventure at 
Monségur. I coujd have wished that all who sur- 
rounded me should participate in my grief, and 
adopt my habits of gloom. Must I say it? the fresh 
and jovial face of Xicolas caused me such impatience 
that I reproached myself with it afterwards. On his 
part, the good boy could not understand my sadness 
or my uneasiness; and he could not imagine that 
any one could be unhappy in the midst of the luxu- 
ries of life. 

After having wandered about Paris for a whole 
week without aim or intention, I decided to go and 
visit the pastor of St. Paul, to whom Father Lambert 
had given me a letter. I then reproached myself 




232 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


for having remained for so long a time without hav- 
ing taken it to him. I presented myself at the 
presbytery; they replied to me that Father Guéret 
was travelling at that moment through the Dauphiné, 
but that they expected him to return very soon. This 
word Dauphiné made me start. I returned towards 
the end of the following week, when I found that 
the pastor of St. Paul had just arrived, but he was 
overwhelmed with business on account of his long 
absence. He sent me word by one of his assistants 
that be would receive me the next evening about 
nine o’clock. I was punctual, and Father Guéret 
equally so. He opened his arms on seeing me. 

“ M. de Rabasteins,” said he, “ I come from Mon- 
ségur. I have prayed at the tomb of your mother ; 
I have visited the chapel where you saw death so 
near you; you understand, I know all. I am your 
friend.” 

On saying these words, he pressed me to his 
breast. I begged him to give me some explanation 
of such strange circumstances. 

‘‘ The fact is very simple,” replied he ; “ the Bish- 
op of St. Paul Trois Chateaux is my intimate friend ; 
he charged me to conduct a negotiation here relating 
to his abbey, which his predecessor. Father de Simi- 
ane, enjoyed, and which he wished to enjoy in his 
turn. Some serious difficulties have arisen on this 
subject. They wish to submit Father Lambert to 
some very burdensome conditions, to which, how- 
ever, he did not refuse, and as a correspondence 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


233 


never explains facts very well, I undertook to go to 
my friend in the lower part of the Dauphiné, in 
order to receive from him some more positive in- 
structions. The Bishop spoke to me of your adven- 
ture as singular and deplorable, and of your projects 
of retreat, Avhich I shall oppose as much as possible. 
If we did not meet sooner, the fault must be attrib- 
uted to yourself; for I was at my post when you 
arrived at Paris, and if you had shown more eager- 
ness to see me, I should have charged myself with 
your commissions to the Dauphiné ; but you are par- 
doned : from this moment you belong to me ; you 
will remain under my direction, for you have had 
the good disposition to become my parishioner.” 

We parted very good friends. Father Guéret 
begged me to regard his house as mine, observing 
to me at the same time, however, that he should be 
very much occupied, as the paschal time was ap- 
proaching. However, he placed at my service every 
evening, from eight to nine o’clock. I profited by 
this permission, and the next day, at the appointed 
hour, I ran to the presbytery. Seriousness, mildness, 
and gayety were mingled in an admirable manner in 
the physiognomy of Father Guéret. It inspired con- 
fidence and security. On seeing him, the unfortunate 
always believed that they had less to complain of. I 
was not long in experiencing it myself. I felt myself, 
when near him, released from the burden which had 
overcome me by night as well as by day. The 
conversation having commenced, I addressed some 

20 


234 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


questions to the pastor touching the extent of his 
parish. He told me that the Bastile depended upon 
it. This word Bastile awakened my attention. I 
became more importunate, and wished to know if it 
was he who heard the confessions of the prisoners 
detained in that place. 

“Ho,’’ replied he; “that care is intrusted to 
Father Griffet, my friend. But when one of the 
prisoners finds himself in the last extremity, accord- 
ing to the opinion of the physicians, we then go to 
him immediately to administer the last sacraments; 
and, in case of death, we proceed with his burial.” 

“In one journey that I made through Provence 
with my mother,” said I to the pastor, “ they spoke 
to us of a mysterious person, who was taken from 
the prisons in the Isle St. Marguerite, to be trans- 
ferred to the Bastile. Do you know if that unfortu- 
nate one finished his days in that prison ?” 

“The mysterious person in question died in the 
Bastile,” replied Father Guéret. “ The priests of this 
parish buried him forty years ago in the cemetery 
w^hich is beyond St. Paul. The mortuary register, 
wdiich I will show you, if you desire it, bears on the 
occasion the date of the 3d of Hovember, 1703, and 
the name of Matliioli, aged forty-five years. This es- 
tablished a false record, for the man was more than 
sixty.” 

“Have you any certainty,” continued I, “of his 
true position ? ” 

“Hone, whatever,” replied the good pastor, in an 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


235 


angry tone. ‘‘Just think that for twenty years a 
crowd of people have busied themselves in trying to 
discover the name and rank of this enigmatical 
being. It is the folly of the hour. Father Griffet, 
a very conscientious man, labored a long time to try 
and solve the problem. The governor of the Bastile 
allowed him every facility in his power of examining 
the documents. Father Griffet has not been able, up 
to the present moment, to form any reasonable 
opinion. 

“As for me,’’ continued the pastor, “ I can certify 
to a rather curious fact. M. de St. Exupéri, a dean 
in the chapter-house in Paris, was particularly well 
acquainted with the nephew of M. de Charnillard, 
one of the late ministers of Louis XIY. This young 
man w^as employed as private secretary to his uncle, 
and enjoyed his entire confidence. This is what he 
said positively to the venerable canon : ‘Seeing M. 
de Charnillard in great suffering, and subject to 
attacks which might carry him off* at any moment, 
I hastened to question him at once about the pris- 
oner, who was guarded with so much care in the 
Bastile, The minister resisted. I was about throw- 
ing myself on my knees before the dying man, when 
he replied to me: “It is a state secret, and I should 
betray my duty and my oaths if I divulged it to 
you.” ’ M. de Charnillard expired the next day, 
carrying the secret with him to the tomb.” 

The conversations of the pastor of St. Paul became 
for me an absolute necessity. They refreshed my 


236 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


blood, and made me see life under a less gloomy 
aspect. God granted me another benefit ; this was 
to inspire me with the love of study. I could then 
convince myself of this truth, that the occupation of 
the mind procures a contentment of itself that is 
invaluable. How is it that people who are worn 
out with the enjoyments of life do not try this, that 
they might taste some new and delicious sensations? 

Every man feels himself drawn strongly towards 
some science which his neighbor very often does 
not take the least interest in. Latin books became 
the principal object of my studies. I joined it to 
that of botany, as a means of recreation. The labors 
to which I had abandoned myself made me appre- 
ciate still more the happiness of knowing Father 
Guéret. He took great pleasure in making me 
acquainted with several learned professors, whom I 
should never have been able to approach without 
his infiuence. The pastor took me to the house of 
the Abbot of La Blatterie, the author of the Life of 
Julian the Apostate, who was professor of eloquence 
at the Royal College. I became one of his most 
zealous auditors. On coming out from these lec- 
tures, I repaired in great haste to the Jardin des 
Plantes to hear the eloquent Jussieu. The public 
lectures had not commenced; I passed mj^ time, 
therefore, in the libraries. I frequented more partic- 
ularly that of the King, where I became acquainted, 
through the infiuence of Father Guéret, with the 
Abbot Sallier and M. Boza, the keeper of medals. 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


237 


However, as the great number of visitors caused me 
much distraction, I preferred to go and study in the 
library of St. Victor, or in that of St. Germain des 
Pres, which w-as enriched with the manuscripts of 
Father Montfaucon and of those of the Abbot 
Renaudot. The libraries at Paris are very numerous ; 
each college — and there are sixty — possesses its own. 
Persons who wish to study are admitted by means 
of some slight formalities. I found these large 
literary establishments filled wfith readers occupied 
with examining or copying. This zeal for science 
caused me as much admiration as astonishment. I 
imagined, on arriving in the capital of France, that 
dissipation alone reigned there. How great was 
my error ! 

In the year 1750, Easter came on the last Sunday 
in March. Father Guéret was absorbed with his 
duties of the ministry during fifteen days. I used 
much discretion in his regard, and deprived myself 
of seeing him during this retreat, wdiich appeared 
to me very long. At last I ventured to pay him a 
visit on the 20th of April, in the evening, according 
to my custom, or rather according to our agreement. 

“Ah ! how glad I am to see you,’’ said he to me, 
opening his aVrns to me, according to his custom. 
“ Do you know one thing — you may doubt it per- 
haps; I will marry you.” 

This word caused me a truly ridiculous fright. 

“Marry me,” replied I. “Do you think that?” 

“Eh! Why not? Have you committed a sacri- 


238 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


lege, or are you a reprobate of God? You will 
marry, I repeat it; you will make an excellent father 
of a family; you will bring up your children as 
Christians, and every one will be happy.” 

This last phrase served generally as a conclusion 
to the periods of the good pastor. 

I tried to present some objections. My mouth 
was always closed by reasons so well founded, that 
I saw myself reduced to silence in spite of myself. 

“ Listen to me,” said Father Guéret, “ this is the 
question in point. My head, filled with all that the 
Bishop of St. Paul had told me in regard to you, I 
related that deplorable adventure, the same day of 
my arrival, to Madame de Lesseville, the widow of a 
counsellor of the Exchequer, and one of my most 
zealous parishioners. This lady has been most 
eager to relate all your history to the superior of a 
house of Benedictines, situated at the other end of 
Paris, in the Street Ville l’Evèque. This convent 
counts among the number of its parlor boarders a 
young person, a Mdlle. de Vigny, the daughter of an 
old chief of the Exchequer, an orphan like yourself. 
Her mother died in her bath, six years ago, suffo- 
cated or burnt, I do not know how; the negligence of 
the servants was the true cause of this misfortune. 
Mdlle. de Vigny, having no relations, remained living 
in the convent, where she had received her educa- 
tion. They gave her a suite of rooms there. 

“ Madame the Superior and Madame de Lesse- 
ville found a singular similarity between your two 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


239 


situations, yours and that of Mdlle. de Vigny, and 
immediately they resolved to unite you. You must 
know that in making projects women act very rap- 
idly ; they never pay any attention to any obstacles 
or remarks that may be addressed to them. After 
the overtures made by Madame de Lesseville, the 
Madame Superior begged me to go and see her. I 
went at her invitation. She called you my pupil; 
and I very readily accepted the title of tutor, by rea- 
son of the friendship and esteem that I feel for you, 
and I said, on your part, things that I will not repeat, 
for fear of wounding your modesty. The Superior 
declared to me that Mdlle. de Vigny, who, exhausted 
like yourself by grief, and occupied without ceasing 
with the loss of her mother, wished also, like your- 
self, to abandon the world, and take the veil. The 
Madame Superior naturally contended against such 
a resolution, which was almost always inspired by 
despair, and often by simple contrariety. In a few 
months Mdlle. de Vigny will enter into the enjoy- 
ment of a very fine fortune; the term of her minority 
has nearlj^ expired. Her guardian has two sons, 
who will be presented, one after the other, to marry 
her; they have not been accepted. 

‘‘The Madame Superior asked me, as a favor, to 
relate your adventure to Mdlle. de Vigny. I lent my- 
self to her wishes, and the Superior went to bring 
her boarder. I saw a very agreeable young person, 
but of a delicate constitution. I then commenced 
my narration. She was much more interested than 


240 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


myself, having seen the place where the events took 
place. I was able then to give it a warmth and ac- 
curacy that enhanced the interest of the subject. 
Mdlle. de Yigny listened to me with so much feeling 
that she could scarcely avoid shedding tears. In 
short, my dear Maurice, you will do well to come to 
my presbytery to-morrow at two o’clock. Madame 
de Lesseville will be there, and will take you in her 
carriage to the convent in the Street Yille l’Evèque. 

“How !” exclaimed I, “you have disposed of me 
without my consent, without warning me! It is 
frightful. I cannot resolve to bring myself to an 
affair so serious.” 

“You must, you must!” replied the pastor; “you 
wdll submit to us. Greater rebels than you have sub- 
mitted to us.” 

I was amazed, stupefied. Father Guéret exer- 
cised such an extraordinary ascendency over my 
whole organization, that I did not know how to 
resist him. 

I passed a painful night. I was assailed by re- 
morse. It seemed to me that I was going to violate 
my vows by marrying; that I should break the secret 
vow made by me upon the tomb of my mother. 
My brain, excited by this sorrowful thought, as well 
as by the absence of sleep, I formed the resolution 
of cutting short these projects of marriage by em- 
ploying some energetic means — to leave Paris sud- 
denly the same morning. I commenced immediately 
to write a letter to Father Guéret, to warn him of 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


241 


my determination. ITicolas was to take it to him 
after my escape, and rejoin me the next day at Me- 
lun. I wished to continue for some time in Lyons 
the solitary life that I had led in Paris. 

From sunrise I commenced my preparations for 
departure, congratulating myself on the part that I 
was taking; I was almost proud of my firmness. At 
this moment the door of my apartment opened, and 
the pastor presented himself to my astonished sight. 
One glance sufficed to show me why he came. 
Father Guéret knew the human heart too well not 
to appreciate the regret that I experienced at not 
being able to grant his desires, and he did not doubt 
that reflection would cause him to change his deter- 
mination. 

“You are going, then, to set out, my dear pupil,” 
said the pastor to me, half serious and half smiling; 
“you wish to escape from me. Listen to me. You 
wish to retire from the world, and embrace the mo- 
nastic life : it is a project that will never be realized. 
At your age, twenty-two years, the emotions are 
lively and the fancies sudden, but the mind changes 
easily. Think that you are the last offspring of a 
very old house : the most ardent desire of your 
mother was to see you married. You would have 
been now if heaven had preserved her. Do you not 
think you would violate her memory by acting so 
contrary to her wishes? It is necessary in order to 
assert your union, to meet with a young person who 
shares in the same degree the religious sentiments 
21 


242 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


that you have known how to preserve intact in the 
depths of your heart. A providential chance has 
revealed tp you the existence of one woman who 
agrees with this description : you are accountable for 
it to your mother who watches over you in heaven. 
I insist upon it, with the firm conviction that I am 
working for your happiness by acting thus. The 
same intentions are directing Madame, the Superior 
of the Benedictines, in her steps; besides, I have 
engaged myself to her, and it would be the conduct 
of a man badly taught who would wish to conceal 
himself from her invitation by a flight that would 
cover him with ridicule. You may as well set out 
to-morrow.” 

While listening to the pastor, I admired the power 
of his reasoning. The latter part of his discourse 
reduced to nothing all my objections. I counter- 
manded the order for departure, and, growing out 
of some precaution. Father Guéret took me with 
with him to hear an instruction that Father Guénée 
was giving at the Church of St. Eustache. 

On coming out of this instruction, which charmed 
my heart and astonished my mind, I was led to the 
Presbytery of St. Paul, and as one o’clock struck I 
found myself esconced in a good carriage in company 
with Madame de Lesseville, whom I had never had 
the honor of seeing before. 

We had to pass over a vast extent of road before 
arriving at the Presbytery of St. Paul, in the Street 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


243 


Ville l’Evêque. The conversation, during the jour- 
iiey, consisted in the exchange of only a few words. 

Madame de Lesseville kept her Ihce constantly 
pressed against the carriage window to see what was 
passing in the street. Suddenly she threw herself 
back, saying: 

‘‘ The horrible beast!” 

‘‘ What is it ?” asked I. 

“Have you not seen, sir, that large crow that was 
perched on the roof of the last house ?” 

“ I did not see it.” 

“ These birds bode misfortune. Stop, sir; touch 
this: it is a sovereign charm to ward off witch- 
craft.” 

The object that was offered me as an infallible 
preservative against the malign influence of the fates, 
was a bunch of little steel keys, which hung from 
the watchchain of Madame de Lesseville, I touched 
them with docility. I did not believe myself to be 
superstitious, yet the observation made by Madame 
de Lesseville displeased me, and threw over my 
spirits a certain uneasiness which did not cease pos- 
sessing me and weighing me down. 

At last, after many turns, we reached the door of 
the community. The Superior received us with 
an eager ceremony. Benevolent kindness pierced 
through the gravity of her manners ; she deigned 
to address me with some questions full of interest. • 
Madame de Lesseville asked for Mdlle. Pauline de 
Vigny. 


244 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


“ I am not very well satisfied with her,’’ replied 
the Superior. “ Day before yesterday the boarders, 
wishing to profit by the fine weather, of which we 
have been deprived for three months, desired to 
play in the garden, and commenced running: the 
April sun is treacherous, and it showered violently 
on the heads of these young ladies, and several of 
them cough frightfully. Mdlle. de Vigny, who was 
not afraid of mingling in these games, is of the 
number of those who have taken cold ; but she de- 
sires much to ofier her respects to Madame de Lesse- 
ville, such an old friend of her mother, and I am 
going to have her called.” 

We passed a few moments in waiting. During 
this interval I experienced some indefinable sensa- 
tions. I trembled like a criminal whom the judge 
is about to examine. We soon saw appear a young 
person, rather tall, but evidently of a frail constitu- 
tion. My first thought on perceiving her was to look 
in her features for some resemblance with those of 
my mother : I could not discover any. Madame de 
Rabasteins was a blonde, and had eyes of a very 
light blue ; Mdlle. de Vigny was, on the contrary, a 
brunette, her eyes sparkling with an extraordinary 
light. The Superior scolded her upon the subject 
of her cough, which Mdlle. de Vigny sought to dis- 
guise the violence of by placing her handkerchief 
constantly before her mouth. The conversation 
flowed on at first about nothing; insensibly, the 
Superior knew with a rare skill how to lead me to 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


245 


relate in detail my captivity in the dungeon of Mon- 
ségur, and the consequences which were so fatal to 
my mother. Since my misfortune, I had not yet 
passed through a trial so complete, for I shunned 
as much as possible speaking of this event. I could 
not control my emotion; my recital was finished in 
the midst of sobs and tears. On their side, these 
ladies showed themselves very much moved. Mdlle. 
Pauline de Vigny showed a true affliction ; her tears 
fiowed freely, for my horrible catastrophe recalled to 
her mind the loss of her mother. The similarity 
of our misfortunes seemed to establish between the 
afflicted ones a sort of intimacy. Mdlle. de Vigny 
said to me, with as much grace as sensibility : 

“ Sir, our two mothers are in heaven, most as- 
suredly, beside one another.” 

These touching words terminated the conversa- 
tion. We took leave of Madame the Superior, and 
of her interesting boarder. 

The projects for departure formed the evening 
before were abandoned without regret: this visit 
had changed the direction of my thoughts as by 
enchantment. The fourth day Father Guéret said 
to me : 

“ My dear Maurice, your person does not shine with 
any of those advantages which a fashionable woman 
looks for in a young man, but in return you possess 
qualities which may attract to you the esteem and 
affection of a pious and well-educated young lady. 
Mdlle. de Vigny has lived in the deepest retirement 


246 


THE MYSTEKIOUS CASTLE. 


since the death of her mother, that is to say since 
the age of fourteen ^^ears; she has refused obsti- 
nately to see the world, and has not the least idea of 
it. It was necessary for her guardian to use some 
subterfuge in order to obtain permission to present 
his two sons to her ; a presentation prepared with 
calculation, and with the only aim of making his 
ward accept either one or the other as a husband. 
These young people, vain and self-sufficient, thought 
to dazzle their cousin by a fastidious elegance. 
That which would have succeeded very well with 
many women, completely displeased this one. Mdlle. 
de Vigny repulsed them unmercifully, and asked 
the favor that they would never speak to her again 
of marriage; for she imagined that all men resem- 
bled the sons of her guardian. Your appearance 
has, however, modified her ideas: your misfortunes 
have at first predisposed her in your favor ; your re- 
ligious sentiments, the reserved tone of your lan- 
guage, the modesty of your manners, have done still 
more. It is not only that, but the simplicity of your 
dress, and the absence of that sword with which all 
the gentlemen are ornamented, which has worked 
so favorably in your interest. Mdlle. de Vigny will 
be charmed that you should renew your visit to Ma- 
dame the Superior. Madame «de Lesseville would 
like very much to take you again to the Street Ville 
l’Evêque.^’ 

The words of the good pastor caused me interiorly 
the sweetest joy ; the horizon of my life seemed to 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


247 


brighten. The conclusion of the first discourse of 
the pastor returned without ceasing to my mind. 
My marriage was the principal object of my mother’s 
desire. I would accomplish her wishes by yielding 
to the entreaties of Father Guéret. Madame de 
Lesseville was very punctual, and had the good-na-* 
ture to take me to the Convent of the Benedictines. 
This time, the bird of ill-omen did not present itself 
to our sight. Madame the Superior received us 
with the same kindness; her face bore, nevertheless, 
the impress of sadness. 

“ I am not at all satisfied,” said she, ‘‘ with Mdlle. 
de Vigny. She has not been willing to take care of 
her cold as all young persons generally do, and her 
condition has become most serious, to such a point 
that the doctor has recommended her not to expose 
herself to the outer air; however, she will receive 
us in the little parlor that adjoins her room.” 

The Superior led us to this parlor. We found there 
Mdlle. de Vigny, who received us as old acquaint- 
ances. I remarked with pain a very decided alter- 
ation in her features; her eyes were red, and the 
cheek-bones inflamed. 

“You see me still all unnerved,” said Mdlle. de 
Vigny to us, “ by a rather exciting scene that has just 
passed between my guardian and myself. I have 
addressed him with grave reproaches on the subject 
of the hasty sale of the furniture of our house. 
When my mother, a widow for ten years, died in 
such a deplorable manner, I had just entered my 


248 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


fourteenth year. Under pretext of my minority, 
they assured me that the laws prescribed it thus. 
They sold all that the dwelling of my family con- 
tained, not only the furniture, but the linen and even 
the wardrobe of my mother, that I should have been 
•so happy to have preserved. Of all that which had 
belonged to her personally, I was only able to save, 
thanks to the devotion of one servant, a little cruci- 
fix of silver. My mother had brought it from Rome; 
it was blessed by our Holy Father the Pope with 
his own hands. This crucifix was a most perfect 
piece of work. M. Couston, the famous sculptor of 
the King, came to examine it from curiositj^ He 
declared that he had never seen anything better fin- 
ished. My parents had it mounted on an ebony 
cross. M. Couston thought that some personage, 
of an eminent dignity in the Church, had worn it 
upon the breast, suspended by a silken cord passed 
through the hands. 

“ I have placed this crucifix upon my 'prié Dieu, as 
you see it, ladies. I am going to let you have a closer 
inspection of it, that you may judge of the delicacy 
of the work.” 

On saying these words, Mdlle. de Vigny rose sud- 
denly to take the precious object, but, at the moment 
when she approached the prié Dieu, the little cruci- 
fix, shaken without doubt by the concussion of the 
walk of the young lady, wavered, and finished by 
falling upon the floor without having been touched. 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


249 


The two pieces of ebony which formed the cross, 
becoming detached, flew over the room. 

“Ah! my poor crucifix,” cried Mdlle. de Vigny, 
“ what a misfortune !” 

On saying these words she commenced to weep. 

“ My child,” said the Superior to her, “what mis- 
fortune do you see in that? In a few moments a 
cabinet-maker will fasten together these two pieces 
of ebony.” 

“ [N’ever mind,” replied the young girl. “ I persist 
in sustaining that the fall of my crucifix is an evil 
augury, and that it prognosticates nothing good.” 

“ How, mademoiselle,” replied the Superior; “you 
are superstitious; are you ignorant that religion 
forbids it ?” 

Mdlle. de Vigny said not a word. Inwardly I shared 
these fears, and I associated this fall of the crucifix 
with the accident which happened to the nuptial ring 
of Lucie de Pracontal, an accident which preceded 
only one hour, perhaps, the disappearance of that 
unfortunate creature. 

Some frightful fits of coughing succeeded this ex- 
planation ; one would almost have believed that the 
breast of Mdlle. de Vigny was going to break. Dur- 
ing these spells, the face of the young lady became 
scarlet, and then the paleness of death succeeded 
rapidly to this purple color. This sight almost 
broke my heart. Mdlle. de Vigny perceived the grief 
that I experienced : she thanked me for it by a 
smile, whose expression cannot be painted in words. 


250 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


Madame the Superior understood that the condition 
of her boarder demanded absolute repose; we there- 
fore took leave of her. When retiring, I trem- 
blingly asked of Mdlle. de Vigny permission to 
come and inquire about her health. 

“ To-morrow is Sunday,” replied she; “this day 
is consecrated to prayer, and no one is admitted 
into the community ; but, next Tuesday, I will be 
charmed if you will accompany Madame the Su- 
perior in the visit that she will make me, about 
three o’clock.” 

I went out from the Convent of the Benedictines 
deeply grieved. 

Madame deLesseville said: “You will see Mdlle. 
de Vigny as fresh as a rose next Tuesday, and the holy 
bonds of marriage will unite you in the beautiful 
month of May.” 

“ I will accept it as an augury,” replied I, slightly 
hesitating. 

A brilliant sun brightened the arrival of this Tues- 
day. I went to hear the mass of the pastor; by one 
of those contrarieties for which men are not always 
prepared, it was a mass for the dead. This circum- 
stance, very simple certainly, plunged me into the 
dark abyss of melancholy. I dragged myself, for 
several hours, along the boulevards, without well 
knowing whither I was directing my steps. With 
the desire of restoring my worn-out energies, I went 
to Father Guéret, whose aspect alone gave me con- 
fidence in myself. I told him part of my fears, occa- 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


251 


sioned by this mass for the dead, which seemed to 
be a sorrowful presentiment in regard to Mdlle. de 
Vigny. 

“Ah! if I am going to find her dead!” said I to 
him. 

The pastor replied to me, this time very briefly, 
without having recourse to raillery: 

“ My child, you must cure yourself of these gloomy 
apprehensions, which may poison the rest of your 
life. If the condition of your dear invalid had grown 
any worse in a serious manner, Madame the Su- 
perior would have warned you of it by a note ; you 
have then nothing to alarm you.” 

The pastor reduced me to silence by this one ob- 
jection ; my fears were calmed, and I recovered my 
assurance. I went to Pont-Neuf in a carriage in 
order to avoid all the disagreeable quarters tilled 
with mud. I proposed to go on foot from the Louvre 
to the Convent of the Benedictines. Instead of get- 
ting out on the quay of the right shore, I directed 
myself to the opposite side, so as to examine the 
monuments with which this quay was furnished, 
over which I had never passed. The magnificent 
royal bridge fixed my attention. I crossed it, and 
found myself before the gate of the Garden of the 
Tuileries. At this moment a truth, very often re- 
peated, appeared to me in all its force: the same ob- 
jects present themselves under different aspects, ac- 
cording to the disposition of your mind. I had gone 
over the Garden of the Tuileries many times : noth- 


252 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


ing there had astonished me then; my eyes disdained 
to contemplate the beautiful statues that offered 
themselves at every step. The magnificent decora- 
tions, formed by the fiowering parterres and majestic 
walks, scarcely attracted my sight. I was wearing 
mourning in the depths of my heart; my life had 
faded forever; the pompous wonders of the palace 
of kings offered less charms to me then than the 
solitude of the forest. 

Now, on this day, the Tuileries appeared to me 
an incomparable place, by its beaut}^ and magnifi- 
cence. The early flowers of the parterres enbalmed 
the air with their perfume, the shrubs were already 
sparkling with their brilliant ornaments, and the 
branches of the elms were growing green. 

I was wandering down the grand walk; my step 
was quick and light. Having crossed the Pont 
Tourant, I gained the Yille TEveque Street, and I 
arrived in a few moments before the community of 
the Benedictines. The Superior received me with 
the same kindness. She did not conceal from me 
the cause of the grief the traces of which I saw 
spread over her face. 

“ The condition of Mdlle. de Vigny, far from be- 
coming better, has grown still more serious; her cold 
has changed, according to the opinion of the physi- 
cians, into a pulmonary complaint: they have or- 
dered that she shall carefully keep her bed. The 
maids who take care of her have not been able to 
keep her there. Our dear invalid has manifested the 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


253 


most lively desire to see you ; she has risen to receive 
you. We will find her lying on a lounge.” 

An announcement so alarming, suddenly changed 
to sadness the joy that I had before experienced. 
Trembling, I followed the Superior, who opened 
herself the . door of the little parlor. My uneasy 
glance penetrated the room. O surprise ! I stopped 
petrified. Mdlle. de Vigny was reclining on an easy 
chair like that in which I had seen the corpse of Mdlle. 
de Pracontal. An ottoman of velvet filled the ofiice 
of a footstool, and supported the feet of the invalid. 
They had placed the easy-chair in a corner of the 
room, so as to avoid the rays of the sun, and prevent 
them striking across the face of the young lady — a 
position like that of Lucie in the dungeon of Mon- 
segur ; and, to complete this terrible similarity, Mdlle. 
de Vigny, on perceiving us, commenced to smile, 
and exposed to view a row of beautiful teeth. I 
could never have believed that the ravages of illness 
could have been so rapid. Ah, according to the 
belief of Madame de Lesseville, I was to see Pauline 
again fresh as a rose. 

Mdlle. de Vigny made a slight sign with her hand 
to invite me to be seated near her easy-chair. She 
said to the Superior, in a tone of displeasure : 

“ I have received a visit from my guardian ; he cast 
upon me some avariciousglances, which seemed seek- 
ing to find out how many days I had yet to live.” 

O Pauline, could you believe such perfidious 
calculations ?” said the Superior to her. 

“His sons, the nephews of my mother, are my 


254 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


natural heirs. The love of the riches of this world 
is very powerful over the hearts of men. I do not 
say that for you, M. Maurice; in my eyes, you do 
not belong to that class of mortals : a truce at once 
to the subject of my guardian.” 

Do you know,” continued she, addressing herself 
to me, “ I have mended my crucifix ; see it. I pre- 
sent it to you ; it is the only thing I can give you ; 
you will take it away with you.” 

“ I would not dare to deprive you of it,” replied I, 
with great emotion. 

“If I die,” said she, “you will keep it as a testi- 
monial of my esteem. If God deigns to preserve me 
upon earth, we will say our prayers morning and 
evening, besides one another, before this revered sign 
of our redemption.” 

At this moment, a loud and imperious voice was 
heard in the passage; it announced the approach of 
the physician, who entered the parlor quite suddenly. 

“Madame Superior,” said he, in a scolding tone, 
“ such successive imprudences have placed our in- 
valid in the dangerous condition in which she is at 
present. I prescribed that she should not be allowed 
to leave her bed, and I insist that she shall be placed 
there at once.” 

These words increased my uneasiness ; they de- 
termined our speedy departure. I made my way 
trembling towards the door. Just at the moment 
when I was about to cross the door-sill, Mdlle. de 
Vigny said to me, in a voice almost extinguished : 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


255 


‘‘ Maurice, I will tell my mother that I have given 
you her crucifix.’^ 

I descended the stairs with the wildness of a mad- 
man. I held concealed under my clothes the sacred 
object that an angel had just placed in hands so un- 
worthy as mine. I followed by chance the first road 
that offered before me : it led me to the Garden of 
the Tuileries. I stopped at the sight of those trees, 
those beautiful walks, where I had lounged a few 
moments before, cradled in dreams of happiness. 
K'ot wishing to pass through them a second time in 
a mood so difierent, I plunged into St. Honoré Street, 
and, after a long journey, I arrived at my lodging 
overwhelmed with grief. I ran in the evening to 
the pastor to draw some consolation from his con- 
versation. A superior man never resists evidence. 
Father Guéret appeared as much surprised as af- 
flicted by the condition of Mdlle. de Vigny : a mourn- 
ful silence replaced, this time, his amiable loquacity; 
the touching gift of the silver crucifix excited in him 
a feeling of tenderness. 

“Let us implore for her,” said he, “the mercy 
of God.” 

We both fell on our knees, and the rest of the day 
was passed in prayer. 

The next day I presented myself, towards noon, 
at the parlor of the Benedictines. I found there a 
religious who said to me ; 

“Madame Superior has charged me to express to 
you the regret that she feels at not being able to 


256 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


receive your visit to-day. Mdlle. de Vigny is much 
worse than yesterday. You will easily understand 
that propriety does not permit that you should go to 
see her.” 

I bowed before an observation as just as rigorous. 
I retraced, sadly, the road from the Marais. I shut 
myself up in my room, and remained prostrated be- 
fore the silver crucifix, without thinking of going 
this evening to the Presbytery. 

“ Why,” said I, “ should I importune others with 
my own griefs?” But true friendship is intelligent. 
As nine o’clock struck I saw Father Guéret enter. 

“I imagined,” said he to me, “that the condi- 
tion of Mdlle. de Vigny was worse, and you were 
afraid to come near me to speak of your sorrows, 
which are very just ones, most assuredly. You look 
upon this proceeding as an indiscretion ; know then, 
my dear child, that there are bowels of compassion 
under the soutane. Every day, we priests of Paris 
distribute to the unfortunate alms of money, cloth- 
ing, and nourishment; but we distribute also the 
alms of the heart : those are more difiicult to prac- 
tice than the first : we make them very often under 
gilded roofs. Your situation demands, on my part, 
some consolations: you do not come to seek them; 
I bring them to you.” 

These words drew from me tears of emotion. I 
threw myself into the arms of this worthy guardian, 
so very dififerent from the one I had at Toulouse. 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


257 


Thursday I presented myself at the parlor in the 
Yille PEveque Street. The nun said to me : 

“ They will administer the last sacraments to Mdlle. 
de Vigny this evening about four o’clock ; the whole 
community are praying for her.” 

“ Could I obtain,” said I to her, ‘‘ the favor of 
placing myself in the passage w^hile the priest, who 
bears the Holy Viaticum, is passing ?” 

“ Madame Superior has foreseen your demand,” 
replied she to me ; “ you will be permitted to re- 
main at the foot of the stairway that you mounted 
day before yesterday, to go to the apartment of the 
invalid ; you will see it from here.” 

I went, while waiting, to the neighboring church 
to prostrate myself at the foot of the altar: it 
seemed that I was now completely detached from the 
earth. At four o’clock I came to occupy the post of 
honor that they had assigned to me. I remained 
there prostrated, not only during the solemn cere- 
mony, but until the moment when it became neces- 
sary to close the outer doors of the community. 

Friday, the 24th day of the month of April, I 
presented myself, as on the evening before, at the 
parlor of the Benedictines: the same nun received 
me without uttering a single word, and showed me 
with her hand, through the window, the drapery of 
white cloth, fastened with a black cross, that hung 
at the entrance to the stairway that led to the apart- 
ment of Mdlle. de Vigny. 

22 



CHAPTER XII. 

THE FUNERAL — AN UNEXPECTED DUEL — THE YOUNG 
BARON DE RABASTEINS RETURNS TO DAUPHINE AND 
EMBRACES THE MONASTIC LIFE IN THE ABBEY OF 
AIGUEBELLE. 

IRCUMSTAXCES independent of my will 
had prevented me from presiding at the 
funeral of Madame de Rabasteins ; I was 
dying when my mother descended to the 
tomb. I resolved this time to brave the sorrow by 
assisting at the obsequies of the young virgin, that 
heaven had seemed to have designed to become the 
companion of my life. 

I knew from some information that I had gained 
in the parlor, that the funeral ceremony was to take 
place in the parish, and not in the chapel of the con- 
vent, as Mdlle. de Vigny did not belong to the com- 
munity as a religious. I went there the next day, 
near eleven o’clock, at the church of the Madeleine; 
two or three ladies had already assembled there with 
the same intention. I remarked with pain the 
absence of Madame de Lesseville ; perhaps she had 
turned back on the road at the sight of some bird 



THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 259 

of ill omen. The funeral procession was not long in 
arriving : the guardian and his two sons were chief 
mourners ; their easy step did not show deep grief; 
four or five old men, old friends of the family of 
Vigny, followed painfully the coflân of the young 
girl, whom they had known since her birth. What 
terrible sensations did I not experience, when I saw 
this bier passing before me, that inclosed all the 
happiness of my life. The three virginal crowns 
with which the pious Benedictines had decorated it, 
spoke to my heart a language that she alone could 
understand. I felt again some painful uneasiness, 
premonitory of a fainting spell, but I knew how to 
repress it by strength of will. I braced myself up 
with energy : it was necessary to accomplish my 
task. I had come to this place to water it with tears. 

My resolution grew firmer during the mass. I 
congratulated myself inwardly upon my courage ; 
but the blow was more violent when the moment 
arrived for my hand to sprinkle the holy water upon 
that body covered with the pall ; my strength aban- 
doned me ; feeble humanity broke down ; my sobs, 
suppressed for a long time, broke out loudly, which 
drew upon me the glance of the whole crowd : no 
one could mistake my part ; the showers of tears 
which fiowed from my eyes attested sufficiently that 
I was not one of the heirs of Mdlle, de Vigny. 

They took the coffin to the parish cemetery,* quite 


* In 1750 each parish had its own cemetery. 


260 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


far off, however : the live or six old men did not ac- 
company it there; without doubt they thought 
that they had already done much for an old friend- 
ship, to have come to the outskirts so far away to 
assist at the services. The burial of Mdlle. de Vigny 
had then for witnesses only the guardian, his sons, 
and the unfortunate Maurice : they both cast upon 
the latter some angry glances; his affliction tor- 
mented them, for it accused them of their coldness. 
At the moment when they let down the coffin into 
the grave, all my senses were overthrown; my mind 
wandered. I made a movement to seize the bier in 
my arms, and to entomb myself living with these 
sacred remains. One of the priests held me by the 
coat, saying, “ Take care, sir, you will fall !” This 
strange voice recalled me to myself. 

I went out of the cemetery with my eyes all daz- 
zled; I saw nothing: it seemed that I no longer 
existed. I ran along the Street St. Honoré with 
hasty steps; the people who were coming in the 
opposite direction elbowed me unmercifully, for my 
preoccupation was such as to prevent my taking the 
necessary precautions to avoid these repeated shocks. 
I was about entering the Cardinal Square, when I 
ran violently against a very tall person : it was a 
perfumed fop, of about twenty-seven years of age, 
with embroidered vest, gimp coat, laced hat, and 
wearing a steel sword. 

“ Sir,” said he to me in a passion, “ you struck 
me.” 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


261 


“ Oh ! sir,” replied I, I did not strike you ; we 
ran against one another : besides, I apologize.” 

“ You struck me,” repeated he, “ and it shall not 
be with impunity.” 

Pronouncing these words he raised his cane to 
strike me : this gesture alone provoked on my part 
a feeling of anger and indignation, of which I did 
not believe myself capable, for such a circumstance 
had never presented itself. I felt myself another 
man; my. sorrows, my misfortunes disappeared from 
my mind. I sprang upon this cane taken to break 
over me, and I tore it from the hands of the fop ; 
he then took his sword. 

“ Softly, sir, the defence is not equal,” said a 
second personage from behind me, and whom I had 
not perceived. The gentleman has knocked 
againstyou, he has apologized; that ought to suffice, 
and you should not maltreat him.” 

“ Eh ! what is that to you ? Is it your business ?” 
replied the first stranger. 

“ Certainly, it is my business,” replied my pro- 
tector; “for I make it a business to defend the op- 
pressed.” 

“ This young man,” continued the fop, “ has 
offended me, and I wish to chastise him.” 

At this word chastise my fury redoubled. I wished 
to throw myself upon the impertinent, and break his 
cane over his face : not even the sight of the sword, 
drawn from the sheath, could intimidate me. The 
mediator placed himself between us, saying : 


262 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


“Sir, since you think that this young man has 
injured you, he is of age to be able to make it right. 
I will act as his second, and w’^e will conduct the busi- 
ness fair and square.” 

“ Is he a gentleman ? He does not wear a sword.” 

“ I am a gentleman,” replied I, “ and I know well 
where to find the necessary arms.” 

“ Ah, well ! in one hour I will expect you on the 
Square of Victories.” 

“We wdll be there before you,” replied my pro- 
tector with cool assurance.* 

The obliging stranger, about forty years of age, 
had an elaborate but stern appearance ; the magnifi- 
cent features of his face expressed at once mildness 
and pride. He drew me into a street not very far 
oft*, and entered the house of an armorer, who re- 
ceived him with a respectful deference, and as a 
person whom he had known for a long time. My 
defender said to the armorer : 

“We must have, at once, some fighting swords.” 

They hastened to show him several. He handled 
them like a man who had used them frequently. 
This ease of manner with murderous weapons gave 
rise in me to a reflection capable of inspiring me 
with serious uneasiness. My hand had never touched 
the hilt of a sword : the education that Madame 

* At the period of which M. de Rabasteins speaks, the mania 
for duelling was carried to madness. They were heard to say con- 
stantly in the most brilliant circles : “ Who was killed yesterday ?” 
“ Who is going to fight to-day ?” 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


263 


de Rabasteins had given me, while near her, did 
not consider lessons in fencing as indispensable; and 
yet the young men of good families aimed to excel 
in this sort of exercise. This reflection, however, 
did not discourage me in the least. Besides, crushed 
under the heavy weight of sorrow, I did not attach 
the least value to life. 

The choice of swords having been made, the gen- 
erous stranger begged the armorer to procure for 
him one of those carriages that they call in Paris 
hacks. At the end of a few moments one of these 
carriages was standing before the door, and we were 
taken in five minutes to the Square of Victories. 
Having descended from the hack, we stationed our- 
selves near the iron railing that surrounds the su- 
perb statue erected in honor of Louis XIV. At this 
moment my noble defender said to me : 

“ You have replied, sir, to this fractious fellow, 
that you were a gentleman ; may I know your 
name ?” 

“ I am,” replied I, M. de Rabasteins.” 

“ M. de Rabasteins !” cried the stranger. “Was 
your father killed in the lines of Philisbourg, six- 
teen years ago ?” 

“ It was at the siege of that city that I had the 
misfortune of losing him. He fought in the squad- 
rons of M. de Lautrec, my relation.” 

“Precisely. 0 providential encounter ! ” contin- 
ued the stranger. “I am the Knight of la Barthe, 
your fellow-countryman ; and still more, the com- 


264 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


panion in arms of your unfortunate father. I owe 
you, for his sake, a true reparation; and I return 
thanks to heaven that such a singular chance has 
given me the occasion of proving to you my devo- 
tion. Your father merited, by his virtues, to be a 
subject of edification to the whole army of the Mar- 
shal de Berwick; he was, must I say it to the shame 
of the officers of this period, an object of derision. 
Myself — hear me — myself, I was of the number of 
those who joked him upon his devotion. I saw him, 
with my own eyes, expiring while reciting the Our 
Father, This sublime death produced upon me a 
marvellous efiect : it recalled to my heart some sen- 
timents of piety that had been forgotten for a long 
time : they were instilled into me during my youth 
by the heavenly woman who gaVe me birth; for, 
never doubt it, all virtues come to us from our 
mothers. These sentiments of piety I had lost in the 
midst of dissipation : they are now immovable, and 
cause the joy of my life. I owe this benefit to the 
glorious death of your father. You understand it,” 
added he, taking my hands, “we are no longer 
strangers.” 

I remained confused. This encounter seemed to 
me such a wonder. Our conversation became very 
animated, and the outpouring of our mutual senti- 
ments made us forget the unexpected quarrel in 
St. Honoré Street. My adversary, however, had 
not forgotten it. He arrived on the square soon 
after, in a hack, as we did ; he made us a sign with 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


265 


his hand. M. de la Barthe ran to his carriage-door 
and said to him most politely : 

“ Sir, we are at your command.” 

Our carriage followed his; we crossed the boule- 
vards, and, after having travelled nearly an hour, 
we stopped outside the barrier of St. Denis. The 
hacks remained upon the road, and we all four, for 
my adversary took his second, entered into a laby- 
rinth of lanes formed by the walls of a great number 
of gardens. The most spacious was chosen as a 
propitious place for the combat. 

The conversation that I had just had with M. de 
la Barthe, the particulars of the death of my father, 
in touching my heart, had calmed the fury with 
which I was transported; but, when I found myself a 
second time in the presence of the insolent fop who 
had lately dared to raise a stick to me, my wrath 
was rekindled, and more violent and more terrible 
than ever. 

‘‘ Sir,” said my aldversary to me, “ do you assure 
me that you are a gentleman ?” 

“ Yes, sir,” replied I. 

“ And I am captain of the dragoons of Yoailles,” 
said M. de la Barthe, coldly. “I bear witness to it 
upon my honor; it is M. de Rabasteins.” 

“ It is to be hoped,” replied my enemy, that the 
young man is not the last of his race. I am the 
Knight de Janville.” 

On saying these words, he took oft* his hat and his 
perfumed coat, and laid them upon the grass; then 
23 


266 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


he drew his sword, and commenced making thrusts. 
As I was, one may say, a novice in this profession, 
I occupied myself with imitating my adversary in 
his terrible preparations. But one thing surprised 
me : M. de la Barthe did not seek to conceal his in- 
dignation ; he and the other second were just about 
drawing their swords from their sheaths. 

I placed myself resolutely in front of M. de Jan- 
ville, presenting to him with an awkward arm the 
end of my steel. The awkwardness did not exclude 
courage. My enemy easily made my sword tly. At 
this moment, M. de la Barthe taking me by the 
shoulder threw me to one side and took my place, 
saying : 

“I will not permit you to assassinate M. de Babas- 
steins, who has never handled arms, it is easy to con- 
vince yourself of that; I take upon myself the 
quarrel.” 

At the same instant, the contest commences be- 
tween the two champions ; the clicking of swords is 
heard. 

“ Stop !” cried I, throwing myself through the 
swords: that of M. de Janville just tore my cheek; 
^ut, in a second, my adversary had his right side run 
through and through. M. de la Barthe took a step 
back in drawing out the homicidal steel, and M. de 
Janville fell upon his knees. All this passed with 
the rapidity of lightning. 

The sight of this man deluged with blood made 
me forget my own situation. Pity succeeded to 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


267 


anger. I ran to lavish upon him all my care. M. 
de la Barthe, having picked up my clothes, dragged 
me violently away from this fatal place, saying to 
me that the second of M. de Janville was sufficient 
to help him. 

‘‘But he is going to expire!” I exclaimed. 

“ Do not believe that : this adventure will be worth 
to him six months of salutary reflections passed upon 
his bed, if they put him there in good order. These 
professional fighters would cut the throats of an 
honest man like a chicken. Let us regain our car- 
riage, quickly,” continued he; “the sergeant of the 
watch could very well arrest us. They are charmed 
to lay their hands on some officer, and we might, 
perhaps, sleep this evening in the Bastile.” 

I shuddered on ^hearing these words. I did not 
fear death; but the word alone of prison, of Bastile, 
caused me a fright. We mounted the hack rapidly. 

M. de la Barthe cried to the coachman : “ There 
are two crowns for the fare; quick, fly!” 

The man took us with all the swiftness of his 
horses. During the journey my generous compan- 
ion said to me : “ They fight every day, and yet 
there is great severity for these kind of quarrels. 
The King shows himself very angry in regard to 
those magistrates w'ho do not know how to prevent 
these misfortunes, and who do not prevent these duels 
taking place, even at Versailles, almost under the 
windows of the sovereign. I will not return this 
evening to my lodging, and, to-morrow evening, I 
shall take the road to Mezieres, where I shall find 


268 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


regiment. I advise you to absent yourself for 
some time from Paris.” 

The hack stopped at the Royal Square as vve 
ordered. M. de la Barthe embraced me in the 
most affectionate manner, and left me after a few 
moments’ conversation, advising me a second time 
to leave the city as soon as possible. When his depar- 
ture, or rather his disappearance, had restored me to 
myself, I fell into despair. What a hard day I had 
just passed ! I wished to return to the scene of com- 
bat to assist M. de Jan vil le ; but, in the midst of the 
labyrinth formed around the capital and its out- 
skirts, how could I find again the sad lane where 
my adversary had led us? This simple reflection 
stopped my steps, which were turned towards the 
direction of the boulevards : an image of the weak- 
ness of man — the lightest incident overthrows the 
best-combined plans. Besides, my own condition 
demanded some assistance. When I dared for a 
single instant to remove my handkerchief from the 
wounded cheek, the blood commenced to flow. I 
saw myself obliged to regain my lodging very 
quickly ; a physician was called. On examining the 
wound, he said : 

“It is a sword-thrust; I see that now: the eye 
has been seriously threatened, but the wound is 
confined to a puncture; it will heal in a few days. 
It is necessary, however, to apply to the wound a 
dressing and some bandages, which will conceal half 
of the face.” 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


269 


I showed perfect docility. When night had ar- 
rived, I went to the presbytery of the church of St. 
Paul. At the sight of my face covered with band- 
ages, the pastor uttered a cry of fright. I was obliged 
to take care and reassure him at once on my part. 
I commenced to relate to him my tragic adventure ; 
but scarcely had I pronounced the word duel, than 
the pastor of St. Paul interrupted me quickly by 
saying : 

“Stop, sir; I cannot hear you any more. I be- 
lieved at first that these wounds were the result of 
an accident, of a fall; but they are the consequences 
of a horrible combat of which I cannot listen to the 
details. These combats are proscribed by the laws 
of our country, and still more by the divine laws. 
You have turned a homicidal steel against the bosom 
of one of your brothers, of a Christian like yourself. 
Ah ! unhappy one, if, guided by a spirit of vengeance, 
you had received the mortal blow, think of the sad 
consequences? Was your soul prepared ? Was it 
not in a state of sin ?” 

The voice of the pastor became thundering. I 
shuddered, and the worthy priest, continuing his 
rebuke, made many remarks on the subject of duel- 
ling, which would have softened the most hardened 
heart. Impressed with the truths which fiowed from 
his mouth, I confessed myself guilty, saying to him, 
“ But what can I do ?” 

The pastor of St. Paul, pointing to the crucifix 
which stood upon his 'prie-Dieu, replied : “ You must 


270 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


ask pardon of the Creator, bj making an act of con- 
trition in the most humble manner possible.” 

At the same moment I fell on mj knees before the 
image of the Kedeemer of men, and my protector 
placed himself also on his knees beside me. The 
prayer being finished, we rose again. The face of 
Father Guéret had recovered its serenity; his fea- 
tures expressed only compassion. I related to him 
then all the incidents of this desolate day. While 
listening to my recital, the pastor of St. Paul uttered 
some exclamations of sorrow. 

“ You see,” said I to him, “ when finishing my de- 
plorable narration, my contact, my approach alone 
brings death ! I caused the death of my mother by a 
mysterious disappearance. Mdlle. de Vigny saw me 
twice. She expressed in my regard some interest; 
God punished her immediately. The young girl sank 
in three days under the attack of an illness generally 
so light. A man, in the flower of his life, going out 
from his house in the morning, his head filled per- 
haps with projects of happiness, he runs against me 
in the street, and, a few moments after, the lightning 
strikes him; he is overthrown in the dust; his 
blood flows in great streams; and I am not permit- 
ted to run to his assistance. The fact is certain, 
my dear pastor, I am a reprobate. Each one of my 
steps is marked by some catastrophe, of which the 
people who approach me become the victims. I 
ought to cover my head with ashes, to veil my face, 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


271 


and to bury in the depths of a cloister an existence 
that is so sad to others.” 

I experienced while speaking a sort of delirium. 
I ran through the room like a madman. In our 
preceding conversations, Father Guéret found won- 
derful replies to all my objections; this time he did 
not even try to temper the violence of my discourse. 
He appeared changed, and preserved a deep silence, 
while the greatness of my misfortunes astonished 
his mind. After quite a long space of time, he em- 
braced me, saying : 

“My child, there are some misfortunes near which 
the consolations of men are only like a vain smoke. 
God alone can offer you some compensation for the 
evils that you suffer. Yes, God calls you unquestion- 
ably to himself. Obey his will. It is for you the 
only way of salvation.” 

My sentence had just been pronounced. After 
having heard it, I felt my whole heart penetrated 
W'ith hope, as the shipwrecked take courage at the 
sight of the boat that comes to gather them up from 
the midst of the waves. I then told the pastor of 
the fears that M. de la Barthe had communicated to 
me on the subject of the disagreeable consequences 
that this duel might have for me. 

“I fear them as w^ell as he,” replied he. “The 
King and his ministers show themselves inexorable 
ill regard to those persons who infringe upon the 
laws that are promulgated to repress the rage for 
duelling. The Bastile is crowded with gentlemen 


272 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


who have had the misfortune to kill their adver- 
saries. They treat with the same severity those who 
have served as seconds in these fatal encounters. 
Father Gritfet, one of the confessors of the Bastile, 
has told me of several officers who were detained in 
this prison on this account for ten years. They 
would have died there if their relations had not had 
influence enough to take them out.” 

The latter part of this discourse caused me true 
fear. I expressed to the good pastor the intention I 
had of leaving Paris the next day. He approved of 
my resolution. I begged him specially to find out if 
M. de Janville had died the same day ; if he left a 
wife and children ; and, in short, in what condition 
he found his family. My design was to consecrate 
to him in atonement a part of my fortune. 

I left Father Guéret in the early part of the night. 
At the moment of separation we lavished upon each 
other reciprocally the testimony of the most sincere 
friendship. The next day, in the morning, before 
six o’clock, I was- in my postchaise flying over the 
road of the Bourbonnais. The same evening that 
preceded my departure, I raised the crucifix from 
the ebony cross, and I suspended it from my neck by 
means of a silken cord passed through the hands, 
as Mdlle. de Vigny had shown me. This silver cruci- 
fix became my safeguard — the shield against my 
passions. I was never separated from it, and I hope 
that it will accompany me to my last home. How 
many tears I shed during the rapid journey from 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


273 


the shores of the Seine to the shores of the Loire. 
The aspect of nature, blooming in all its rich and 
flowering beauty, did not bring the slightest diver- 
sion to my wearied and depressed spirits. Horrible 
dreams did not cease attacking me during the three 
nights that I passed in the hotels. My mother, 
Lucie de Pracontal, Pauline de Vigny, and the 
Knight de Janville appeared in turn, and pursued 
me with their vengeance. 

With the hope of procuring for myself a sound 
sleep through the means of some forced exercise, I 
resolved to walk one half of the relays, keeping my 
postchaise in sight. Four leagues after we left Mou- 
lins the route became more difficult than usual. I 
was walking quietly beside my carriage, when I per- 
ceived not far from Yaren n es, a group of two or 
three persons who came out of the town ; one of 
them played gambols before the other two. I drew 
near the postilion and asked who these people were? 

“They are,” replied he to me, “some newly-mar- 
ried ones from the village.” 

“ And not a relation, not a friend accompanies 
them,” observed I to him. 

In a few moments T found myself in front of this 
wedding party of which a hurdy-gurdy player headed 
the procession. The man, coarsely but neatly clothed, 
seemed to be about twenty-six years of age, the 
woman, young in proportion, wore a straw hat lined 
with blue stufl*, and of a very odd shape; from the 
neck of the bride hung a very small silver cross: this 


274 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


cross composed her entire finery. A spray of orange 
blossoms decorated the bodice of the villager : this 
modest bouquet was to prove to the eyes of the 
world the virginal purity of the bride; her face bore 
witness to it still more. These two physiognomies, 
bearing the impress of goodness, expressed an in- 
efiable joy. The young woman held her husband 
strongly by the arm, as if she feared that he might 
be carried ofi*. 

I took the liberty of stopping the wedding party 
in their triumphal march, saying to the couple : 

“From whence do you come, my good people?” 

“We have just been married in the parish, and 
we are going to Father Anthony’s farm, who is the 
master of both of us.” 

“Ah! you are alone?” 

“To our cost! We are orphans, we have neither 
fathers nor mothers, nor relations.” 

“ Not even a godmother,” added the woman. 

“Let us see; how much have you two between you 
on getting married ?” 

“How much have we?” said the young man; “ eh ! 
nothing, then.” 

Both commenced to laugh aloud, looking at one 
another. 

“Sir,” replied the bride, “we have arms and 
strength ; we will do like others.” 

At this moment God inspired me with a good 
thought. I had cast misfortune upon those who had 
crossed my path; profiting by this meeting I decided 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


275 


to expiate a small part of the evil that I had involun- 
tarily caused. 

“ My good friends, retrace your steps,” said I to 
these people; ‘Met US’ go together to the village no- 
tary of Yarennes, I have something very important 
to communicate to you.” 

“ To the house of the village notary !” cried the 
frightened bride, “ I do not wish to go.” 

The young man, astonished, hesitated without 
speaking. 

“ Go on then, it is for your good,” exclaimed the 
postilion to them, in a rude voice, from his horse. 

The rustic wedding retook the road to the town 
of Yarennes; the procession was increased by a per- 
son weighed down and overcome by the gifts of for- 
tune, and who would willingly have exchanged his 
destiny with that of a simple villager. They led us 
to the house of the village notary, where I had a 
document drawn out, by which M. de Rabasteins 
settled an income of six hundred pounds on the 
couple who had met him on the road on the first 
day of their marriage. 

Good actions always bring calm to the soul, and 
the agitated feelings are all tranquilized ; inefiable 
joy accompanies them. The happy ones of this 
world are not always convinced of this truth. I 
tasted, the following nights, a more peaceful sleep; 
sorrowful faces and restless dreams came no longer 
to trouble my rest. I arrived the day after at 
Lyons. When I passed through this city eight 


276 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


months before, I said to myself, with extreme grief, 
“What was I at the time when I came here first?’’ 
What a clifterence between the two positions! The 
society of my mother filled then all my wishes; the 
thought of losing her had never occupied my mind: 
my love for her made me regard her as immortal. I 
did not think in the journey that preceded this one, 
when I was deploring so bitterly the frightful blow 
that had just taken her away, that I could possibly 
become more unhappy still. ITow, towards the mid- 
dle of 1750, the new misfortunes with which the 
poor orphan saw himself overcome, made him desire 
to return to the position that he regarded formerly 
as intolerable. The man who gives up without ceas- 
ing to useless regrets, can only say, while descending 
each step of his life : “ Ah ! if I had known yester- 
day ! ” 

I reached Monsegur in the last week of May. Tlie 
most perfect calm reigned in the little town, that I 
had seen so animated during some events of which 
my sudden disappearance was the first episode. 
Would you believe it, this tranquillity displeased me 
when my heart was troubled; but Christian humility 
repressed immediately this inconceivable moment 
of pride. My first care was to go and kneel at the 
tomb of my mother. What a surprise I experienced 
on seeing it covered with little white and blue flow- 
ors: they adorned and encircled the entire tomb- 
stone. I asked Hubert, who accompanied me, if his 
hand had sown this pretty border ? He replied to 
me : 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


277 


“ I did not sow them ; but Clotilde came often to 
place flowers upon the tomb of our dear mistress, 
and perhaps these lilies of the valley and these 
daisies may have reproduced themselves; but it ap- 
pears to me very extraordinary.’’’ 

“God permits,” replied I, “that the dust of virtue 
may generate flowers; will our ashes produce as 
much ? ” 

After having consecrated a few days to the regu- 
lation of several matters of interest, I thought to 
pursue the conclusion of the business that I placed 
above all others. I went to St. Paul Trois Châ- 
teaux, to Father Lambert. On perceiving me, the 
worthy prelate extended his arms to me, and pressed 
me to his heart. 

“ My Father,” said I to him, “ you have submitted 
me to some trials : I have passed through them; they 
have been very hard. Now that my task is accom- 
plished, I come a second time to embrace your 
knees, begging you to open to me the only way that 
can lead the orphan to happiness.” 

The Bishop appeared deeply moved, and replied 
to me : 

“My child, I know all; Father Guéret has not 
left me in ignorance. I have been able to sound the 
depth of your misfortune, and since you persist in 
wishing to seek consolation only in a retreat from 
the world, in which every moment must be conse- 
crated to God alone, I shall no longer oppose your 
pious design, and shall only consider myself too 
happj^ in being able to contribute to your felicity.” 


278 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


The choice of the monastic order had been de- 
cided for a long time in my mind ; the study of the 
Latin Fathers had led me naturally to examine in 
detail the lives of the holy persons that the Church 
recommends to the veneration of the faithful. I felt 
myself filled with enthusiasm for St. Bernarde, the 
most powerful genius of the middle ages, the great 
reformer of his century. I aspired then to the hap- 
piness of being admitted into the order founded by 
this illustrious champion of the faith. Happily the 
diocese of St. Paul Trois Chateaux possessed an ab- 
bey of this order, which was at the same time a 
noviciate. It was situated in a pretty town called 
Aiguebelle. Thus all my desires were gratified, for 
I should have regretted intensely to have been 
obliged to leave the Dauphiné. 

Father Lambert wrote in my regard to the com- 
mendatory Abbot, and, at the end of a few weeks, I 
was permitted to enter the community. I experi- 
enced the most extraordinary sensations when I 
crossed the threshold of this house, which was to 
become for the orphan a safe asjdum against any 
new storms. I appreciated very quickly the sweet- 
ness of my new existence. It was not long in recon- 
ciling me with myself. The remembrance of my 
misfortunes faded away in the midst of my medita- 
tions; however, will you believe it, my brothers? 
after twenty-six years, I still experience an involun- 
tary emotion when the bell rings to assemble in 
the chapel, and we commence together the morning 
prayer. 



CHAPTEE XIIL 

THE BARON DE RABASTEINS VISITS PARIS A SECOND 
TIME — VERY EXTRAORDINARY ENCOUNTER. 

TASTED for more than a quarter of a 
century the calm to which I had aspired 
with so much ardor after my misfor- 
tune. Each evening I said to myself? 
“ This is the end of a day that has passed very peace- 
fully; perhaps it would have terminated in some 
catastrophe if I had continued to live in the world.” 
I imagined that my career would thus flow on 
sheltered from new shocks, and that I would never 
again leave the sweet valley of Aiguebelle. God had 
ordained otherwise. In the month of March, 1776, 
I received an order from my Superiors to go to Lyons, 
where several commendatory Abbots of this order 
were assembled. I was to assist at this convocation as 
deputy of the Prior of Aiguebelle, whose serious in- 
firmities prevented him from travelling. Father 
Lambert, the venerable Bishop of St. Paul Trois 
Châteaux, who had opened to me the way of salva- 
tion, occupied still the same see. I went to pay my 





280 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


respects at his feet, and ask his blessing on my de- 
parture. I chanced to question him on the motive 
of my mission. Thç prelate, in consideration of our 
old friendship, wished much to reveal to me some 
very strange facts : this is the substance of his dis- 
course : 

“ My son,” said he to me, “ amongst all the ad- 
vantages that the solitude of the cloister ma}^ offer 
to a man of your character, the most precious, with- 
out doubt, is that of being ignorant of all that passes 
in the world from which you have separated volun- 
tarily. You will learn, then, with fear, one thing 
that can be no longer concealed from you. It is de- 
veloping itself every day more and more among the 
higher classes, and even among the middle classes 
in the cities; and that is, a^ spirit of impiety which 
tends to insanity. The fundamental principles of our 
religion are each day questioned in writings, where 
the boldness of ideas disputes it with the most cyni- 
cal expressions. The religious orders are exposed 
to the most violent attacks; they complain that they 
are blazing abroad on their part the grossest calum- 
nies, and, I must confess it, quite a large number of 
bishops have expressed some very displeasing opin- 
ions with regard to the monastic life. The most ter- 
rible blows are given to you by men who seem ani- 
mated with good intentions. 

“ These adversaries do not stop at any mercenary 
accusations of which the monks have become the 
object, contesting the legitimacy of their property, 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


281 


and signalizing as an intolerable abuse, the revenues 
that the abbeys pay every year to the Court of 
Rome. These accusations are not new, but they 
recur now more energetically and more eagerly, 
because your detractors hope to triumph in the favor 
of a new reign. On mounting the throne, each king 
manifests the intention of destroying these abuses, 
a very praiseworthy thing most assuredly, but very 
difficult to execute in the right way. The heads of 
the orders, frightened at the perils that threaten 
their numerous communities, have resolved to unite 
together in a synod, at Paris, to consult upon the 
means of defending themselves from the more terri- 
ble blows that they are preparing to hurl against 
them. The Legate of the Pope has received from 
the Court of Rome the necessary instructions to 
enable him to place himself in a condition to lend to 
the heads of the orders a salutary assistance. Your 
Superiors, ray son, have thought that your former 
position of fortune and birth might, in this case, be 
of use to the general welfare. It is not then only to 
Lyons that you should go, but as well to Paris. You 
see, the will of man is as fragile in the cloister as in 
the midst of society. You have made the vow of 
obedience on taking the monastic habit, and your 
state imposes upon you to-day the obligation of 
going to visit again a city that you abandoned for- 
merly, when wearied, flying from it with the firm 
resolution of never returning.’’ , 

The words of the Bishop struck me with astouish- 
24 


282 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


ment; my lips could not utter a single word. I 
return to Paris ! It was necessary to obey. At the 
moment of my departure, the Bishop informed me 
that I would no longer find Father Guéret there, the 
pastor of St. Paul ; that worthy priest had died about 
ten years before. Father Lambert gave me letters to 
M. de Cossay, a counsellor at the Court of Assist- 
ance, one of his relations, a man very devoted to the 
interests of the Church, and whose acquaintance 
would be of great use to me. Before leaving Dau- 
phiné, I went to pray at the tomb of my mother. 
Coming from this pious visit, I felt myself stronger 
and better able to weather the new storms with 
which my life seemed to be threatened. 

Early in April I arrived at Lyons, and I revisited 
this city with the sweetest satisfaction. A few years 
before, a gentleman from Lyons, who was visiting 
and travelling through Dauphiné, sight-seeing, 
stopped several days at the Abbey of Aiguebelle. 
Chance caused me to discover that his mother had 
been the intimate friend of Madame de Rabasteins 
and her companion at the convent. From this mo- 
ment a close connection was established between us. 
I did not lose the occasion of asking a fellow-traveller 
to give me his address. My first visit, then, on 
arriving, was to M. Brossât, one of the notables of 
the city, and consular agent for the Prince Palatine 
of Deux-Ponts. I had gone, naturally with the re- 
ligious community, to the house of the Minimes, but 
M. Brossât wished that I should lodge with him ; 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


283 


he insisted, with much politeness, that I should take 
lodgings in his house, in St. Kizier Square. Among 
the persons that my host saw most intimately, I 
mention M. de Chazelles, captain of one of the 
quarters of the city, and M. Dandé and M. ITolhac, 
both old aldermen. These gentlemen, zealous Chris- 
tians, and well posted about all that was passing, con- 
firmed all that the Bishop of St. Paul Trois Châ- 
teaux had said to me on the subject of the dangers 
that threatened the monastic life ; they even added 
some details which proved that Father Lambert had 
kept very far within the whole truth. 

At the end of a few days, over forty religious of 
different orders arrived at Lyons, the great part 
of them Priors of monasteries; they came from Lan- 
guedoc, Provence, or Dauphiné. They all assembled 
in conference at the house of the Father Superior of 
the Gray Friars of St. Bonaventure, in order to re- 
ceive the instructions that the heads of the orders 
were dispatching to us. After three weeks’ waiting, 
we were ordered to go to Paris without any delay. 
At the moment when we were all making our prepa- 
rations for departure, a messenger from the Arch- 
bishop announced to us that we were convoked for 
the next day, in the usual place of our meetings, to 
receive there some communications which were to 
be given by Father de Montpezat, one of the vicar- 
generals. This announcement caused much sur- 
prise among us. Father de Montpezat arrived at 
the time specified, and invited us, in the name of 


284 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


my Lord Bishop, to delay our departure for a week, 
advising us, in this interval, to procure for ourselves 
the dress of the seoular clergy, to let our hair grow, 
to cut our beards, and to leave off, in this journey, 
the white or brown robes, as well as all other dis- 
tinctive signs of the monastic rule. The Yicar- 
general, in a rather embarrassed discourse, declared 
to us that the Archbishop had received instructions 
emanating from the ministerial power; these in- 
structions were to prevent the envoys of the monas- 
teries from arriving at Paris in their usual dress; for 
they feared that the sight of the woollen robes of 
these orders, and their large rosaries, would only 
produce a very disagreeable impression among the 
inhabitants of the capital, already very strongly 
prejudiced against the monks. Every one of us 
was filled with consternation on hearing the speech 
of the Vicar-general. This strange announcement 
confirmed, in a startling manner, that which had 
been said to me by the Bishop of St. Paul Trois 
Châteaux, and by my host, M. Brossât. 

We left Lyons not very confident. They had taken 
the precaution to make us set out in bands, several 
days intervening between the starting of each band, 
and pointing out to us the two routes, that of the 
Bourgogne and that of the Bourbonnais. I did not 
wear in my dress any indication of the monastic 
state, but I preserved preciously upon my breast the 
silver crucifix, from which I had never been separated 
from the time of the sad funeral of April 24th, 1750. 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


285 


All the Priors arranged, however, that our true 
dress should accompany us with the baggage, look- 
ing upon them as indispensable when they gathered 
together the envoys of the abbeys in the general 
assembly. The journey was long and quite disagree- 
able ; 'we did not always find friendliness in the sec- 
ular clergy. 

What a sensation the sight of Paris produced in 
me. A thousand varied thoughts troubled my heart. 
I went down naturally to the house of our order, in 
St. James Street ; it was cro^vded with the deputies 
from the monasteries situated in the provinces in the 
centre and the western part of the kingdom; but we 
attached small value to the comforts of life. 

The day after my arrival I presented myself at the 
house of M. de Coussay, desiring to give him the 
letter with which the Bishop had charged me to him. 
The counsellor of the Court of Protection received 
me in the most afiectionate manner; he did not fear 
to announce himself immediately as a zealous de- 
fender of the interests -of the Church, and of the 
monastic orders especially. M. de Coussay, per- 
fectly well posted in all that was passing, said to me: 

“ You must be horribly uncomfortable at the Ber- 
nadines; I absolutely wish that you would take a 
lodging in my house, which will not prevent you 
from assisting at the assemblies of the regular clergy. 
I can mention to you at the Marais, or at the Royal 
Square, twenty counsellors of the Parliament and of 
the Exchequer, who have received at their houses 


286 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


some good father, Benedictine, Carmelite, or Au- 
gustine.’’ 

My resistance yielded before this last considera- 
tion, I confess it to my shame. I should have, with- 
out doubt, have done better not to have separated 
from the brotherhood ; my heart, I saw with pain, 
preserved still for the world a sort .of attachment. 

The day after, I installed myself then in St. Giles 
Street, at the house of M. de Coussay. His house 
offered a great analogy with that of M. de Bauche : 
the society of both was composed of the same ele- 
ments. My private conversation with M. de Coussay 
offered me many more charms, as all that he related 
was entirely new for me : he, on his part, laughed at 
my ignorance ; but the discourse of my host caused 
me sometimes fear from its gloomy coloring. 

“ There is manifest in the public mind,” said M. 
de Coussay, ‘‘ a diabolical effervescence, to which 
the best people cannot remain ignorant; according 
to the learned men of the day, from the time that 
the new reign commences, ^erything must change. 
The country is prosperous, the nation is happy, that 
does not suffer the least doubt, and yet, discontent 
arises everywhere. The people are jealous of the 
middle classes, the middle classes are jealous of the 
bankers, these envy the position of the courtiers; 
the nobility of the provinces detest the nobility of 
the court; the rank of dress abhors the rank of the 
sword; in short, to finish the picture, the inferior 
clergy cabal against the bishops, and these, with 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


287 


only a few exceptions, work with zeal for the destruc- 
tion of the monastic orders, who they think are too 
independent of their jurisdiction. Heaven has just 
given us for a King an angel of virtue, of religion, 
of integrity; never has a sovereign desired so much 
the happiness of his people ; he wishes to see every- 
thing through his eyes, but they complain of only 
showing him the abuses, and by dint of reforming, 
they will throw the edifice to the ground.’^ 

M. de Coussay finished his peroration by saying : 
‘‘ You will indeed be happy if they otter you the 
chance of looking upon the features of our young 
King.” 

I replied to him : Such a favor will crown all my 
wishes, and atone for the fatigues of such a. long 
journey.” 

‘‘The King,” replied my host, “is visiting just 
now the principal colleges of Paris. Thursday next 
he is to honor with his presence that of Louis le 
Grand. I have been happy enough to render some 
signal services to the principal, M. Poignard; he has 
invited me to this feast, and, if you will permit me^ 
I will take you there with me : these are some 
solemnities that the gravity of your state cannot 
forbid; I hope that the remembrance of these will 
be engraven on your mind.” 

I showed an impatience, without equal, to see this 
Thursday arrive, so much to be desired. We went 
to the College Louis le Grand immediately after din- 
ner : the adjacent streets were entirely obstructed ; 


288 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


it was necessary to redouble our efforts to pierce 
through the crowd. We entered the College through 
a little door that led to a stairway leading to the in- 
firmary ; the principal placed us opposite to a gallery 
that had been erected in one of the windows of the 
refectory : they had arranged this large room for the 
reception of the Sovereign. Towards three o’clock, 
the acclamations of the people announced the ap- 
proach of his Majesty. I was detached from the 
things of this world, and yet my heart beat with 
violence at the expectation alone of seeing appear 
before my eyes the father of his country. The cries 
of joy became so noisy, that the vaults of the hall 
seemed ready to fall to pieces; at last, the Monarch 
was introduced by the dignitaries of the universities. 
All the pupils were ranged on one side : two of these 
young people advanced towards the King to present 
him with a congratulatory address in Latin, and one 
in French. The Prince listened very attentively to 
the Latin, which was delivered with clearness and 
precision. The pupil who was to give the address 
in French was less happy; his emotion prevented 
him from speaking, and sobs interrupted his voice 
several times. The King was pleased to give him 
some encouragement with a true paternal goodness. 
They told me that this young man, with the expan- 
sive heart, enjoyed his education at the expense of 
M. de Conzie, Bishop of Arras.* All the spectators. 


* This young man with the expansive heart was Robespierre. 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


289 


without exception, showed themselves equally moved. 
As for me, I was dazzled, I no longer saw ; I scarcely 
dared to fix my glance upon this sacred head, to 
which was attached the destinies of the people. An 
air of grandeur was spread over the person of Louis 
XYI; but his uncertain step seemed to betoken a 
certain timidity. The King addressed some ques- 
tions in a very strong voice to the professors of 
mathematics, and to the professor of geography. 

This visit to the College of Louis le Grand inter- 
ested me in the highest degree. My host wished to 
place the crowning point on the enjoyment of the 
day by inviting me to pass the evening in his draw- 
ing-room, where there was a reunion every Thurs- 
day of some magistrates from several sovereign 
courts. They mentioned to me, among them, MM. 
de Chevigné, d’Outremont, de Pontcarré, de Male- 
zieux, counsellors to Parliament; MM. Amyot and 
de Cadencourt of the Exchequer; MM. de Maussion 
and de la Fortelle, of the Court of Protection. In 
this society, M. de Barentin, the first president of 
the Court of Protection, held the place that M. Gil- 
bert des Voisins occupied at the house of M. de 
Bauche, when on my visit to Paris in 1750. I im- 
agined that I should see an old man in the one who 
w^as invested with one of the most eminent dignities 
of the magistracy; what was my astonishment on 
seeing appear a man of thirty-eight or forty years. 
It would be difficult to describe a more beautiful 
face for a magistrate : his speech, grave and concise, 
25 


290 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


commanded attention. The visit of the King to the 
College of Louis le Grand became naturally the sub- 
ject of conversation, M. de Coussay took pleasure 
in remarking the testimonials of love that the Prince 
had received from the people, who followed him in 
crowds. 

‘‘That which you relate,” said M. de Barentin, 
“ on the subject of the eagerness of the Parisians for 
their King, causes me true joy, for I think that, in 
all modern time, no sovereign has ever merited so 
well the attachment of his subjects as our young 
King. Kothing can be compared to his zeal for the 
good of his country ; every moment of the day is 
consecrated by him to some serious work, without 
the least distraction causing him to turn aside from 
his task. The ministers are as astonished at his ap- 
plication as at his aptitude ; how God alone gives 
him strength to surmount the immense difficulties 
which are springing at every step. The most alarm- 
ing symptoms are showing themselves in all parts. 
That which should cause good people the most un- 
easiness, is the downfall of the public mind. In the 
last century, the French prided themselves for being 
held up as a model for the rest of Europe ; now’ they 
take pleasure in imitating servilely the customs of 
strangers. You may believe that time will finish by 
correcting this generation of such madness, but there 
exists a mania whose consequences will necessarily 
be much more serious. This mania consists in de- 
preciating all that has been done in time past, in 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


291 


striking with anathema the works of our fathers; 
no reputation, no glory is now sheltered from the 
critic. Among the most illustrious personages of 
our history, is distinguished a heroine that other na- 
tions have envied us, for the annals of no other peo- 
ple can offer a parallel character. This woman, 
animated with the spirit of God, armed her feeble 
arm for the deliverance of her country; her words 
and her example electrified the populations who, 
from that moment, awoke from their apathy, work- 
ing with zeal to shake off the detestable yoke of the 
English. This woman, this angel of virtue, lost her 
life while accomplishing this memorable mission. 
But, you know it as well as I, gentlemen, she did 
not perish in a sudden manner, struck by a spear in 
the midst of the battle; Jeanne d’Arc expired at a 
stake, in the fiâmes, like a martyr. One can never 
hear the recital of her death without feeling moved 
to tears, and without being filled with indignation 
against her executioners. Ah, well ! the greatest 
poet of the eighteenth century has not feared to soil 
his pen by writing, upon so chaste a subject, the 
most impious poem, in which he casts abroad a ri- 
diculous infamy on the memory of the heroine who 
shed her blood for the cause of her country. The 
author of such a work merited to be pursued as a 
bad Frenchman, and to incur the blame of all good 
people. Far from that, they celebrated his name, 
and the world clapped their hands. This world, of 
which I speak, is not that which runs through the 


292 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


streets; this world goes generally in carriages, and 
frequents the palaces of our kings.’’ 

The noble words of M. de Barentin were not con- 
tradicted. They struck me with admiration ; but a 
part of this discourse was unintelligible to me. 
Wishing to be enlightened, I timidly addressed some 
questions to M. de Coussay on the subject of this 
impious work that M. de Barentin had just pointed 
out for public detestation. My question excited a 
laugh among these counsellors. My host, raising 
his voice, said : 

“M. President, here is a good Bernadine father, 
who arrives from his monastery, situated in the 
heart of the Dauphiné. He has remained there for 
a quarter of a century without going out and without 
communicating with the world. He knew neither 
the work nor the name of the guilty one upon whom 
should fall all your anathemas.” 

“ Ah ! in mercy, gentlemen,” cried M. de Baren- 
tin, “leave him in his happy ignorance.” 

M. de Pontcarre, counsellor for Parliament, then 
said : 

“I agree entirely with the opinion of the first 
president on the subject of the alarming symptoms 
which are manifesting themselves in all ranks of 
society. The higher classes do not fear to find fault 
openly with all acts emanating from the sovereign 
power, in compensation for which the populace are 
very threatening in their manners. This is con- 
stantly presented to the eyes of strangers visiting 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


203 


Paris. I heard, at the house of Marshal de Brissac, 
one word uttered by the Archduke Joseph, the 
brother of the Queen, who came lately, as you all 
know, to pass a few days at Versailles. This word 
denotes some apprehensions of the same nature. 
The Germanic Prince showed himself very eager to 
examine all the curiosities of Paris. Louis XVL, 
seeing him returning from one of these excursions, 
asked him in a proud tone how he liked the capital. 
‘Very large and very beautiful,’ replied the Arch- 
duke. ‘However, one very serious inconvenience 
accompanies all these advantage.’ ‘What is this 
inconvenience ?’ asked the King, quite astonished. 
‘ It is that by means of such a capital a King may be 
dethroned in one afternoon,’ ” 

“ The opinion of the Archduke Joseph,” said M. 
de Chevigné, counsellor for Parliament, “cannot 
have much weight with sensible people. They rep- 
resent this Prince as an odd, eccentric mind; he has 
given proofs of recklessness on many occasions 
during his sojourn in France. The desire to visit 
the magnificent port of Toulon drew him to Prov- 
ence. They were about, on his entreaties, to launch 
into the water a vessel of the line. The Minister of 
the Kavy ordered them to hold hack the operation 
until the arrival of the strange Prince, in order to 
give him the pleasure of assisting at such an impos- 
ing spectacle. The Archduke was astonished, and 
employed every moment of his sojourn at Toulon 
in visits made on board some vessels that had en- 


294 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


tered the port. The Prince could not occupy his 
leisure moments in a more noble manner, but he 
made himself ridiculous by asking the marine officers 
the most difficult questions, with the very marked 
intention of putting their knowledge at fault. I 
will mention one single example. Being on board 
the Trident, one of the finest vessels in the royal 
navy, he conceived the wffiim of asking the com- 
mander, M. de Ternay, how many nails were used 
in the construction of a vessel of a hundred cannons. 
The officer, without hesitating one second, replied : 
‘ Ten thousand five hundred and fifty-one.’ The Arch- 
duke, caught in his own trap, made a truce to his 
indiscreet questions.” 

“It seems that the Germans are not always suc- 
cessful when they wish to cast any blame on the 
French,” said M. d’Outremont at this moment. 
“Here is an account as spicy of M. Lenoir, our 
lieutenant-general of Police; I heard it related yes- 
terday, at the house of President Molé, by a person 
very well informed. The second son of the Grand 
Palatine of Hungary was assassinated a year ago, in 
the streets of Yienna ; this event cast terror through- 
out the capital of Austria. The Empress ordered 
them to spare no efforts to discover the author of 
this heinous crime; but the most minute investiga- 
tions led to no satisfactory results. Three months 
after, the magistrates of Yienna learned, with cer- 
tainty, according to their account, that the assassin 
had taken refuge in France, that he had been seen 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


295 


in Paris, frequenting the public places without the 
least uneasiness in the world. Count Mercy d’Ar- 
genteau, ambassador of her Imperial Majesty, was 
ordered to demand of the Court of France the extra- 
dition of the criminal. The Keeper of the Seals ful- 
filled all the necessary formalities, and ordered M. 
Lenoir to proceed in arresting the stranger, who had 
been pointed out in the most precise terms. After 
some weeks of very active search, M. Lenoir replied 
that the man in question had never appeared in 
Paris, and that the magistrates of Vienna were not 
rightly informed. Count Mercy d’Argenteau trans- 
mitted to his court this information ; they received 
it with a sort of contemptuous raillery. The Aus- 
trian authorities did not fear turning into deri- 
sion this French police so renowned, and above all 
M. Lenoir, of whom every one boasted of his address 
and penetration; in short, they persisted in assert- 
ing that the assassin of the young Prince Palatine 
was amusing himself in Paris, right in the face of 
the lieutenant of the police and their bloodhounds. 
These malicious imputations naturally shocked the 
feelings of the Baron of Bréteuil, ambassador of 
France, who hastened to write to our minister of these 
strange matters ; he added to his dispatch some new 
information about this aftair. M. Lenoir, informed of 
wdiat was passing, took ofience and spared no efibrts 
to obtain a happy result. At the end of two months 
he replied to M. de Bréteuil in the following terms: 
‘The assassin, to whose arrest the ministers of Her 


296 THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 

Imperial Majesty attach so great a price, not only 
has not been to Paris, but has never left Vienna. 
He lives in some outskirt, and disguises himself 
under the dress of an Armenian merchant; he al- 
ways wears a plaster over the left eye.’ The Ger- 
man authorities, guided by this information, found 
the man and carried him otf bodily. You may well 
judge that the jesting ceased, and gave way to ad- 
miration. The Empress ordered her ambassador at 
Paris to express to M. Lenoir her entire satisfac- 
tion.” 

This evening passed at the house of M. de Coussay 
did not finish in so sad a manner for me as that of 
M. de Bauche, twent3^-six years before; but the next 
day I experienced a defeat which I did not expect. 
I went Friday morning to the Little Fathers, where 
the deputy priors of the monasteries were to assem- 
ble. The most alarming reports were circulated in 
the assembly. I learned there that the court, the 
ministers, many magistrates and some of the bishops 
manifested some hostile intentions in our regard : 
they were just about speaking of the next sale of the 
property of the regular clergy. Our superiors de- 
cided that the envoys should not present any recla- 
mations, and that it would be necessary to let the 
storm pass over wdthout raising a murmur. I re- 
gained the Marais very much saddened with what 
I had just heard. On arriving at the hotel of M. de 
Coussay, the porter gave me a letter that a servant 
had given him for me; it bore the address : “To 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


297 


Baron de Babasteins, Knight of Malta.” This let- 
ter could not be destined for any other, since I was 
the only one of my name. These are the terms of 
the missive: 

“ Sir Baron de Kabasteins must have learned to 
manage a sword since he entered into the Order of 
Malta; he must be less of a novice than in 1750. I 
summon him, for to-morrow, Saturday, to give me 
satisfaction for the injury that he inflicted on me 
then, under the pain of being marked as a coward. 

“Knight de Janville.” 

This note gave me a terrible blow. The blood 
that I had received from my ancestors commenced 
to boil in my veins, and although clothed in the 
dress of a monk, I could not support the epithet of 
coward. Miserable pride of man ! Without doubt, 
some circumstance was owing to chance, that the 
Knight de Janville had learned of my presence in 
Paris and my residence. They must have told him 
that I belonged to some religious order, that of 
Malta, of which all the members spring from the 
nobility. He did not seek any other information, 
and must have written under the influence of anger. 
A postscript added to the note appointed three 
o’clock at the Square of Victories as the place of 
meeting; this seemed to me significant. I did not 
hesitate in taking a decided resolution : it did not 
enter into my mind to. seek to shun a meeting by 


298 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


any means whatever. I made up my mind to reply 
to the challenge in a manner worthy of my new 
position. I went in all haste to our house of Ber- 
nardines, in order to implore there the assistance of a 
prior, whose firm character might serve me admira- 
bly on this occasion. I did not conceal from- him 
anything of my old quarrel with M. de Janville, 
who I had believed dead of his wound for twenty- 
six years. M. de la Barthe had said truly when he 
assured me that the conquered one should be left on 
his bed for six months of reflection. In the evening, 
the hour of repast having arrived, I asked M. de 
Coussay if he knew M. de Janville. 

“ This name belongs to one of the oldest and most 
honorable families in Normandy,” replied he. “ I 
have heard the Knight de Janville spoken of in the 
world as a fighter by profession, who has given and 
received many sword-thrusts in his life; for thirty 
years and more, he has been considered as a fighter 
of the highest rank; they say he is very vigorous, 
notwithstanding his age of a half century, but I 
have never seen him. Madame de Malezieux, his 
relation, assured me that his noble profession began 
to fatigue him, and that he thought of reposing on 
his laurels.” 

I did not tell M. de Coussay a single word touch- 
ing upon the provocation that M. de Janville had 
just addressed me. He would have wished at once 
to have turned me from my design, which would 
have placed me in a very false position. I went to- 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


299 


wards noon to the house of the Bernardines, where the 
prior who was to fill the office of second was waiting 
for rne with impatience. Following the orders given 
the evening before, we resumed our dress of a monk, 
of white cloth with the hood, not forgetting all the 
accessories, the cord and tassels, and the rosary of 
large beads, finished by the bones and skull. We 
covered our monastic habit with a large cloak, which 
enveloped it entirely. I fastened upon my breast the 
silver crucifix, my usual safeguard. A carriage wait- 
ing in advance transported us to the Square des Vic- 
toires, so as to reach there before the hour appointed 
in the challenge. M. de Janville was very exact; 
he descended from his hack, and came to ask our 
coachman if M. de Babasteins was in the carriage. 
I replied to him that we were waiting for his orders, 
and that he would please point out the way, as he did 
the first time. The Knight showed a certain surprise 
at my appearance. Without doubt he was frightened 
on seeing the ravages that years had made on my 
physiognomy. The deep wrinkles that furrowed his 
face caused the same reflections to arise in me. I 
must confess it, however, his attitude still announced 
great vigor. The man had lost nothing of his usual 
arrogance. 

The carriage of M. de Janville, taking rapidly the 
direction to the boulevards, went up the Street of 
the Faubourg St. Denis. I was watching the road 
that he followed. I easily guessed that my adver- 
sary was leading me to the place where the first 


300 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


quarrel had terminated in such a deplorable man- 
ner for him. He wished to wash out his affront on 
the same spot. This indication alone proved that 
his heart had nourished for a long time the desire of 
vengeance. Some new buildings had changed the 
aspect of this quarter. It was necessary then to 
choose for the tournament a list very different from 
that of 1750. The carriage which preceded ours 
stopped not far from a little meadow surrounded 
with hedges. M. de Janville descended rapidly 
from the hack, and, with a slow step, went to take 
his position in a place which seemed to be familiar 
to him. Having taken off his hat, he drew his 
sword from the sheath before we had time to step to 
the ground. A very marked impatience was shown 
through all his movements, that his second seemed 
to wish to moderate. At last we got out of the car- 
riage, taking care to keep ourselves carefully wrap- 
ped ; we advanced with a grave step, and when we 
were directly in front of our adversaries, at the dis- 
tance of about one foot, with an equal quickness, 
we ^threw our mantles on the grass. I took then 
one step forward, and presented my breast to this 
incensed enemy : 

“ Sir, you have made a mistake,’’ said I to him. 
“ You have believed me to be a Knight of Malta, 
and, by this title, very skilful in the management of 
arms. I have been, for twenty-six years, a simple 
Bernardine monk, and the regret of having caused 
your death may perhaps be placed among the rao- 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


301 


lives that determined me then to embrace the mo- 
nastic life. I should have been able, without dis- 
honor, to dispense with replying to your challenge ; 
but I came to give you, with my own lips, an ex- 
planation worthy of you and myself.” 

It is impossible to describe the attitude of M. de 
Janville during the scene. Spite and astonishment 
were painted on his features; nevertheless, my dis- 
course was not long in producing on my heart the 
eflect that I expected. 

“ Sir, you have given me,” replied he, “a second 
lesson; be sure that it will bear better fruit than the 
first. Your firmness and your moderation have 
taken away all my resentment. How, you are a 
monk ! you, the last of the house of Rabasteins ! It 
■would have been much better for me had I taken 
the same part. I should have led a more peaceful 
life, and I should have caused fewer tears to flow. 
From this day, I will take a vow before you, to re- 
nounce all this bad habit of duelling. I will no 
longer draw the sword.” 

While pronouncing these words, he put back his 
weapon into the sheath, that he had drawn out 
thirsting for blood; then, raising the tone of his 
voice, the Knight added : 

“ Baron de Rabasteins, I regard myself as fully 
satisfied, and I consider you a brave and loyal gen- 
tleman.” 

He led us politely to our carriage, and remained 


302 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


uncovered until the moment when the coachman 
whipped his horses and set off*. 

I did not hesitate to relate to M. de Coussay, in 
the evening, my second adventure with M. de Jan- 
ville, since the event was so honorable for my ad- 
versary. 

“ It is to be hoped,” said the counsellor to me, 
shaking his head, “ that he will keep his promise, 
and in this case you will have rendered him a very 
great service, for society has expelled him from its 
midst, and you have just furnished him with the 
means of returning to it under the most favorable 
auspices.” 

My obliging host appeared very much interested 
in the course that public affairs were taking. Ac- 
cording to him the wisest heads inclined towards in- 
sanit}^; the court resembled a madhouse, and the 
magistracy itself a factious crowd. 

“ One of the advantages of your state. Brother 
Maurice, is that you are ignorant of all that is pass- 
ing in this lower world. You have, then, no knowl- 
edge of a political event so important that it is ab- 
sorbing all the cabinets of Europe. You know very 
well that England possesses some very flourishing 
colonies in ISTorth America; half of the population are 
composed of people who come from the British Isles, 
and who are consequently subjects of King George 
III or of his predecessors. These colonies have just 
revolted against the mother country, wrong or right; 
we are not the judges of that question. The insiir- 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


303 


gents have converted their country into a republic, 
and have just sent commissioners to entreat the King 
of France to recognize that portion of Korth America 
as an independent state. Louis XVI, only consult- 
ing himself, has replied by a very plain refusal ; in 
his eyes, to grant his protection to rebels would be 
refusing to acknowledge the most sacred rights of 
sovereigns; but the courtiers do not adopt this 
opinion, based on good faith and equity. The Amer- 
ican envoys have received at Versailles an eager re- 
ception ; every one is zealously interested in their 
cause, and all these marquises, with red heels and 
spangles, have been transformed into proud republi- 
cans: they wish to cross the ocean to go and defend 
the liberty of these oppressed people; they enrol 
volunteers, they form legions, they arm vessels. 
There is where we are; enthusiasm has gained 
the magistracy, who, not being able to fight, wish, 
however, to contribute to the success of the enter- 
prise by giving their money; mine certainly will not 
go to increase the offering that Parliament is pre- 
paring for it.” 

During the frequent conversations that we had to- 
gether, M. de Coussay became more and more alarm- 
ing. One day at the end of June, he approached 
me with an air more reserved, more solemn than 
usual. 

“ Brother Maurice,” said he to me, “ I am ordered, 
on the part of M. de Bareutin, to make you an offi- 
cial communication. You must know first, that our 


S04 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


first president is of an exemplary piety, and very 
much attached to the interests of the Church, which 
he has always defended with a most enlightened 
zeal. He succeeded, last year, in the presidency of 
the Court of Protection, to M. de Malesherbes, a 
magistrate most remarkable for his knowledge, his 
integrity, and his virtues; but too enthusiastic over 
novelties. Under such a guide, the Court of Protec- 
tion lost in some manner its old form, which breathed 
calm severity; the zeal for work decreased. Three 
or four months have sufliced to enable M. de Bar- 
entin to establish all on the old footing, and to make 
an admirable impression on his company. His suc- 
cesses have been so sparkling, that M. Malesherbes 
has been constrained to render homage to the supe- 
riority of his successor ; and he has done so, I must 
confess it, with a modesty capable of heightening his 
merit. ‘He is,’ said he, ‘the man for all times and 
for all events; I was only the man of circumstances 
and accidents.’ 

“ I do not doubt,” continued M. de Coussay, “ but 
the King intends to make M. de Barentin a Keeper 
of the* Seals. You will understand, then, that the 
words of a magistrate who stands so high in the 
estimation of his sovereign, should have a decisive 
authority. This is what he has just said to me on 
the subject of the Priors sent to Paris by the monas- 
teries : ‘ These good fathers have been badly advised 
in their steps; their presence here, under the eyes 
of the most ardent enemies of the monastic bodies, 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 305 

far from serving the interests of the religious corpo- 
rations to which they belong, has caused them truly 
an injury. They have given some disagreeable in- 
terpretations to these assemblies of the regular 
clergy; they have shown them to be dangerous, 
illegal. The wisest part, according to my belief, is 
that they should decide to leave Paris with as little 
noise and as quickly as possible, to regain their mon- 
asteries without saying a word. If they do not do 
so with a good grace, they will oblige them to do so 
by violence. Give this, warning to these religious 
on the part of a very well-informed friend, who seeks 
to spare them any trouble.’ ” 

Such was the communication made by M. de 
Coussay in the name of the first President of the 
Court of Protection. I understood it in all its gravity. 
I went immediately^ to the house of the Bernardines, 
and told the Priors of our order of the warnings 
given by a personage as eminent as M. de Barentin. 
The good fathers were more frightened than I; they 
hastened to make known to the other corporations 
such an important advice. They all judged it pru- 
dent to conform to it. The assemblies ceased from 
that day, and the departures commenced to take 
place without trouble or noise. As for me, I was 
charmed at seeing my mission terminated. I had 
felt myself weighed down with a very heavy burden. 
Before leaving Paris, I desired to make a sort of pil- 
grimage. I went to the Street Ville l’Evêque. I 
looked there for the Convent of the Benedictines. 


26 


306 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


It occupied the same site, but some uew building bad 
changed the appearance : the fatal stairway that I 
had mounted twice, existed no longer. The beatings 
of my heart proved to me that years had not changed 
its feeling. 

I bade an eternal adieu to Paris in the beginning 
of July, 1777. I took the direction of Lyons, and I 
stopped an entire week in that city, at the house of 
my first host, M. Brossât, whose warnings had been 
fully justified. At last, on the 1st of August, I re- 
turned to the Monastery of Aiguebelle, after an 
absence which had appeared to me very long. With 
what pleasure I found my cell again, my books, the 
silent cloister where I had given myself up to such 
sweet meditations. I hope that through God’s favor 
I may never leave it again, and that my ashes will 
mingle with the ashes of the brothers who are re- 
posing a few steps from us. 


COlsrCLUSIOK 

The Baron de Babasteins, designated in his com- 
munity under the name of Brother Maurice, desired 
ardently never to leave the Abbey of Aiguebelle, 
and to finish his life there in the peace of the Lord. 
God did not deign to hear his wishes. When the 
news of the reunion of the deputies spread itself 
through the provinces at the end of 1786, the regu- 
lar clergy believed the events very favorable to 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


307 


increase the value of their claims. The heads of the 
orders decided that a very small number of envoys 
from the principal abbeys should join the fifteen 
Archbishops or Bishops, who were to take their seats 
in the Assembly of the Deputies. M. de Rabasteins 
was appointed by his superiors to fill this mission. 
He saw himself then constrained to return to Paris 
for the third time, and to join Father Hébert, Gen 
eral of the Endistes, Dom Chevreux, General of the 
Benedictines, and Abbé Luserbac, Prior of the Brives. 
These religious, with others whose names have es- 
caped us, formed between them some conferences; 
but scarcely had the Assembly of Deputies held their 
first meetings (February, 1787), than the regular 
clergy understood that their position had become 
much more critical than in 1776. The envoys 
decided to wait, without leaving Paris, in the hope 
that more favorable circumstances would present 
themselves : they were becoming from day to day 
more threatening. They were not long in hearing 
of the insurrection in Dauphiné, the troubles of 
Grenoble, and the assembly that was held at Yizille. 
They prevented Brother Maurice, without doubt, 
from regaining his abbey, which was situated in a 
country given up to revolt. The bloody scenes 
which preluded the opening of the General States 
made them understand that the wisest part was to 
remain quiet. 

Events followed with a frightful rapidity. The 
suppression of the monastic orders decided the 


308 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


question in a cruel manner. The sort of rage with 
which they pursued the people of the Church in the 
provinces inspired many of the religious with the 
thought of coming to seek a refuge in Paris, where 
they hoped to conc'eal themselves better. This ex- 
pedient succeeded for some time; but this crowd of 
clergymen in the capital became fatal to them. 
Pointed out by some miserable wretches, they be- 
came, after the 10th of August, 1792, the object of 
the most active search. One hundred and eighty- 
five priests or religious of several orders were led to 
the Convent of the Carmelites in the Vaugirard 
Street, and guarded as prisoners by several picket 
guards. Among these noble captives were dis- 
tinguished M. Dulan, Archbishop of Arles; Louis 
and Joseph de Larochefoucault — the first Bishop of 
Beausais, and the second Bishop of Saintes. The 
2d of September, the cut-throats, having exhausted 
themselves with blood and carnage at the Abbey, 
thought of the poor priests detained at the Carmel- 
ites, and resolved to go to this convent, to follow 
there the course of their exploits. No one is ignor- 
ant of what they did there. The three Bishops were 
massacred in the most atrocious manner; the other 
Bishops shared their martyrdom. However, a few 
were happy enough to escape the steel of the assas- 
sins. The Abbot of the Pannonie, one of those who 
was the most exposed, in the hope of saving the life 
of the Archbishop of Arles, succeeded in coming 
out of this frightful butchery safe and sound. Later, 


THE MYSTERIOUS CASTLE. 


309 


he furnished several families with information on 
the subject of the religious massacre at the Carmel- 
ites, of which some persons had made an incorrect 
list. 

The Abbot of la Pannonie pointed out M. de Rab- 
asteins as one of the victims of this terrible day ; 
an undisputable proof took away all doubt with 
regard to Brother Maurice. On the battle-field 
where the conquered received the palm of martyr- 
dom they found strewn around, some breviaries, 
scapulars, and rosaries. Among these spoils, that 
the conquerors disdained to carry away, figured 
a little silver crucifix, isolated and suspended by the 
hands to a silken cord. Some pious people in the 
quarter tremblingly occupied themselves with gather- 
ing up these several objects, when the commissioners 
of the Commune having returned, ordered them to 
give them up at once. These books, rosaries, and 
this silver crucifix were taken away to the section of 
the Red Cross. What has become of them? We 
do not know. This little crucifix was, without doubt, 
that which Pauline de Vigny had given, forty-two 
years before, to young Be Rabasteins, as a precursory 
token of a chaste union that Cod, in his impenetra- 
ble designs, did not wish to have completed. 


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